By Kirsten Buys
C & G Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — Organizers of the Farmington Area Founders Festival have kicked things into high gear as they prepare to host the 44th annual celebration in downtown Farmington.

Dedicated to those instrumental in establishing the city, the festival, July 18-20, will include a craft fair, carnival rides, food, live music and more.

“We decided we needed to celebrate the founding of Farmington again,” Executive Director Kathleen Donnelly said. “In the late 1800s, there was a lot going on in Farmington.”

With the theme of “In the Good Old Summer Time,” the festival will include pie and ice cream socials as in eras past, residents dressed in period clothing and some good old-fashioned fun.

The three-day festival will kick off with pre-festival activities July 16 with the Miss Farmington Founders Festival pageant at 7 p.m. at the Civic Theater, 33332 Grand River Ave., and limited events on July 17, including an ox roast, Crafters on the Lawn from 9 a.m. to dusk, Kid’s Day in Shiawassee Park and a bingo tent.

The full festival begins at 9 a.m. July 18 and continues through the weekend with the Eastern Star Bake Sale, Kid’s Zone rides and fun, beer and wine tents, steak and spaghetti dinners, and history tours.

One of the festival’s main events is Art on the Grand on the grounds of the Masonic Temple, 23715 Farmington Road. It includes such fine art as ceramics, fiber art, painting, sculpture, photography and more while live music plays nearby.

Crafter’s Marketplace will feature more than 100 crafters from throughout the country from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 18 and 19, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 20.

The Movie Under the Stars will be “Shrek 3,” shown at the Bright House Networks Main Stage at 9:30 p.m. July 18. “The Wizard of Oz” will be shown at the Civic Theater July 18 and 19 with North Farmington High School students in full costume.

Saturday, July 19 kicks off with the annual Botsford Parade down Grand River Avenue at 10 a.m. Grand marshals of the parade will include Detroit Red Wings vocalist Karen Newman, who will perform on a trolley throughout the parade, as well as former Detroit Tigers featured in the book “From Glory Days” by Kurt David.

“Definitely come see what Farmington has to offer,” parade organizer Brhett Butler of Farmington said. “It’s going to be really exciting because we’re really trying to work on having more floats this year and to go with ‘In the Good Old Summer Time’ theme.”

Warner’s Country Market of fresh fruits and vegetables and Fred Warner’s Birthday Bash will follow the parade at the Governor Warner Museum, 33805 Grand River Ave., in honor of the July 21 birthday of Gov. Fred Warner, who served as Michigan governor from 1905 to 1911.

The festival will wrap up July 20 beginning at 11 a.m. with the Pies on the Grand pie sale, and the drawing for the Farmington/Farmington Hills Chamber of Commerce Fantasy Raffle. For the price of a $100 ticket, participants could win cash prizes of up to $25,000 or vehicles and more.

Festival organizers decided to do more than just have fun at this year’s festival — they decided to come together for a good cause. In conjunction with Gleaner’s Community Food Bank, a canned food drive kicked off July 2 and will continue through the festival. A Gleaner’s truck will be parked behind Village Mall to accept nonperishable food donations from festival-goers.

“People are hurting right now,” Donnelly said. “Not only can we celebrate the founding of Farmington, but we can give back.”

Donnelly said she’s proud of all the people who come together to support Farmington and its residents for some good old-fashioned fun each year.

“I think it’s a wonderful event,” she said. “I think in this day and age, with everything that’s going on in the world, we need to celebrate being neighbors, being a part of a wonderful community.”

A shuttle will be available from the Bob Saks dealership at 38050 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills. Shuttle stops will be along Grand River Ave.

For further information, visit www.foundersfestival.com.  

You can reach Staff Writer Kirsten Buys at kbuys@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1030.