By EVELYN CAIRNS
In addition to fine art works in all mediums, music by top bands and the specialties of more than 60 restaurants, the 17th annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats festival will offer a variety of new activities this year.
The festival will take place in Downtown Royal Oak from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 1.
Admission will cost $3 daily before 3 p.m. and $5 daily after 3 p.m. There will be no charge for admission before 5 p.m. Aug. 29. Children 3 and under will be admitted free.
Among the new highlights will be instruction in yoga, cardio kickboxing and Zumba; 24 hair-style shows; and basketball clinics and contests. A 5K/10K walk/run Saturday will benefit people with cystic fibrosis.
Entertainment attractions will include more than 200 national and local performers. Among them are Jena Irene, 2014 “American Idol” runnerup; Jeff Gutt, 2013 “The X Factor” runnerup, and Motown’s The Spinners.
Local bands scheduled to play include Stewart Francke, 50 Amp Fuse and The Steel Horse Band.
In addition, classical and multi-cultural acts are planned. They include flamenco dancing by La Chispa & Company, Indian dancing by Nadanta, Indian music by Kasturi Paigude, and Greek music and belly dancing by Enigma Detroit.
A Kids Zone will cater to children with games, moonwalks, entertainment, arts and crafts, a juggler, clown and magic and puppet shows.
Among the many eateries and vendors participating will be Trenton Ice Cream, Andiamo Pizza Pie, Famous Dave’s, Polish Village Café and Peking House.
More than 60 nonprofit and community organizations will benefit from the festival, a spokesman for Arts, Beats & Eats said, adding that last year’s event raised $400,000.
For more information, go to www.artsbeatseats.com or call 248-541-7550.
Jazz festival is scheduled
Saxophonist Joshua Redman will be the Artist in Residence for the 35th annual Detroit Jazz Festival Friday through Sept. 1 at Hart Plaza and Campus Martius Detroit.
The artist, who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and was accepted at Yale law school, chose instead to become a musician. He will perform at the festival with the piano trio The Bad Plus.
Among many tribute concerts will be the Nat King Cole Tribute featuring Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli, and Cyrus Chestnut Plays Dave Brubeck.
More than three dozen acts are on the program. There is no admission charge.
DYPAC sets workshops
The Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center is accepting reservations for six-week fall theater workshops scheduled to begin Sept. 6 at the Trenton Village Theatre, 2447 W. Jefferson, in preparation for a performance on Oct. 12.
Children 5 through 8 years old will meet from 10 a.m. to noon to study for a mini-musical, and those 9 and older from 1 to 3 p.m. to prepare for a musical or another type of show.
Each child will have an opportunity to speak or sing, DYPAC administrator Debra Jackson said.
The workshops provide an introduction to theater and develop audition skills, stage awareness, cooperation, stage presence and character, Jackson said. It is a way to form new friendships and build confidence, she added.
The cost of the workshop is $60, plus $15 for those who are not 2014 members of DYPAC.
A similar six-week workshop will be conducted beginning Oct. 12 for a performance on Feb. 8.
Coming up . . .
Aug. 29 — End of Summer Student Art Show featuring works produced during the Downriver Council for the Arts summer camp program; 6 to 8 p.m. at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte; light refreshments will be served.
Sept. 5 — Opening reception for the Downriver Council for the Arts Fourth Annual Juried Photograph Exhibition; 6 to 8 p.m. at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte; winners will be announced at the reception.