DEARBORN – The 39th Dearborn Homecoming festival runs Aug. 3 to 5 at Ford Field Park, 22051 Cherry Hill Road, and includes carnival rides, food, musical performances including headliner The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to the Bee Gees, free family activities, and fireworks on Saturday and Sunday night.
Admission to the festival is free and hours are generally 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., although some activities may start earlier.
To learn more about the festival, go to www.cityofdearborn.org/homecoming.
Stage entertainment
Saturday night’s headliner, The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to the Bee Gees, will feature 30 of the best Bee Gees songs, dynamic visuals and audience participation, keeping the fever alive for the 90-minute family friendly concert.
The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to The Bee Gees will begin at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4, following the classic rock, funk, soul and feel good music of The Together Band at 6 p.m.
High-energy dance and variety band Holly and the Johnnies! will kick off the festival’s main stage entertainment from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 3. They are followed by Atomic Radio, known for their covers of today’s and yesterday’s pop, rock and hip-hop hits.
The festival concludes on Aug. 5 with a night of throwbacks featuring Main Stage performances by Class of ’98, a ’90s cover band, and Mega 80’s, Detroit’s premier ’80s retro multimedia experience.
Plenty of music, and a little magic, will be at the Food Court Stage as well during Homecoming including Howlin’ Mercy, A2 Magic, Corndaddy, The Amazing Clark: Master Magician, Wide Angle, The Phoenix Theory.
Dearborn nonprofits selling food
Homecoming will welcome back an Arab American Tent, with entertainment and halal food. Also returning with ethnic food and entertainment are the Italian American Shelter and Polish American Shelter, and more than 20 other non-profit organizations raising funds through food and beverage sales or other activities.
Free and low-cost family activities
Guests can expect the return of free and low-cost Homecoming classics such as children’s games, giant inflatables, crafts and more on all three days of the festival. Most of the children’s activities are in the Hilltop Area.
The carnival, open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on all three days of the festival, boasts two dozen rides, including the return of the Mighty Mouse roller coaster. A full-day wristband is $22 when purchased at the festival. However, they can be purchased for $15 (plus $1 service fee) at cityofdearborn.org/homecoming through 11:55 p.m. Aug. 2.
Health and wellness activities
A wide range of fitness and wellness activities will once again be available at Homecoming:
• The Family Fun Bike Ride is a free, police-supported ride that starts at 10 a.m. Aug. 4, near the South Shelter (Polish Shelter). Registration begins at 9 a.m. Helmets are required.
• New to the festival this year is a free bike valet thanks to Bike Dearborn, a nonprofit promoting biking in the city and beyond. Guests who ride their own bike to the festival will now have the option to drop it off at the bike valet, located at the tennis courts. The valet service will be open from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Donations accepted.
• The one-mile Family Fun Run and 5K is set for Aug. 5. Registration for the one-mile run is $15 and starts at 7:45 a.m., while the 5K is $35 and starts at 8 a.m. Registration information at www.cityofdearborn.org/homecoming.
• The Cornhole Tournament begins at noon on Aug. 4. The cost is $50 for two-person teams. Cash prizes awarded. Registration can be completed online at dearborntheater.com; by phone at 313-943-2354; or in person Tuesday through Saturday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office, 15801 Michigan Ave.
• Healthy Dearborn and Beaumont will offer fun and engaging fitness and wellness activities inside their tent, including a dance party from11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 4.
Shuttles and parking info
A free shuttle service will be provided from Dearborn High School, 19501 W. Outer Drive, in addition to free parking. Handicap accessible shuttles will be making continuous trips from the school to the festival 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 4 and 5.
Ford Field parking costs $10 beginning 11 a.m. all three days. The initial fee comes with a $7 parking coupon for a second entry over the weekend.
Free parking is available throughout the nearby west Dearborn downtown business district.
Sponsors pay for Homecoming
Homecoming is organized by the city of Dearborn in conjunction with the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund. The presenting sponsor is Beaumont.
Homecoming attracts 150,000 people and is made possible largely because of sponsors who pay for the entertainment and activities. Homecoming activities and entertainment are paid for by support from sponsors, not city tax dollars.