The 2007 Meijer Taylor Summer Festival – the Downriver area’s biggest and best festival – is scheduled for July 12-15 at beautiful Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road.
The festival features four days of carnival rides, games, special events, entertainment, food, beverages and fun for the whole family.
The Masco Fireworks – the best this side of Detroit – are presented at dusk Friday, July 13. Tens of thousands of people attend annually on fireworks night. In fact, the crowd gets so large that Pardee Road closes between Goddard and Northline roads at about 6 p.m.
The fireworks music will be simulcast on radio station 106.7-FM, The Fox.
The Concerts
Three days of great concerts, featuring big-name acts, take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Country superstar John Anderson will perform starting at 8:45 p.m. Friday, July 13, leading into the fireworks. Other acts performing Friday are Tommy Steele, starting at 3:45 p.m., Red Hill at 5:15 p.m. and Sarah Johns at 7 p.m. Admission is free to the Friday concerts.
An extraordinary classic rock concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, with the legendary REO Speedwagon and Kansas headlining. Kansas performs at 6:30 p.m., followed by REO about 8:45 p.m. Also on the stage are the Pasman Supersession at 4:15 p.m. and the Eddie Leighton Project with Steve Kostan at 5:15 p.m. A fifth act is scheduled to be added.
All-day tickets to Saturday’s concerts are $15 in advance at the Taylor Meijer store and TicketMaster outlets and $25 on the day of the show.
The Cheetah Girls will be the main event on Sunday, July 15. Entertainment for young people begins at 12:30 p.m. with Taylor’s young superstar Lynnae Winnie, followed by the always entertaining Radio Disney D-Tour at 1 p.m. The day will culminate with the Disney’s Cheetah Girls about 2 p.m.
Tickets for Sunday are only $20 in advance at the Taylor Meijer and TicketMaster and $30 at the gate.
No bottles, cans or coolers are permitted in the concert area.
Special Attractions
There are many other special attractions throughout the festival:
●The Rollie Hopgood Midtown Taylor 5K Run travels through the streets of Taylor and the trails of Heritage Park, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 14. A kids’ Tadpole Run around Coan Lake in the park begins at 8:15 a.m. And a free one-mile fun run has been added at 8:30 a.m. For information on the 5K, call (734) 282-1101 or visit the Web site www.everalracemgt.com.
●A great lineup of Family Day activities is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14. There will be games, music, prizes and fun in front of the Heritage Park Activity Building. The day is sponsored by Oakwood Heritage Hospital and Radio Disney.
●During Family Day and the 5K Run, enjoy brunch at a special price served by Pete’s Place from 9 a.m. to noon just outside the Heritage Park Activity Building.
●The annual Taylor Rotary Fishing Derby is set for 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 15, in Heritage Park. The derby is limited to 100 children, ages 5 to 12, who compete for prizes. The entry fee is only $2.
●Pre-sale pay-one-price vouchers for carnival rides are available for $12 at the Taylor Meijer store through July 11.
●The Vegas room in the Heritage Park Activity Building benefits the Junior League World Series of baseball, scheduled for August 12-18 at Heritage Park.
●Two radio stations will broadcast live from Heritage Park. The Fox, 106.7-FM, will broadcast from 10 a.m. to Midnight Friday, July 13. WCSX, 94.7-FM, will broadcast from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 14.
Parking
For on-site parking, visitors are asked to use the Northline Road entrance to the park only. On Thursday, there will be free on-site parking. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, on-site parking is $5. On Friday, parking for Taylor residents is free.
Since parking often fills up fast, the festival suggests off-site parking locations. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, festival-goers can park for $5 at Wayne County Community College District at Northline and Racho roads. Free parking and shuttle service is provided at the Taylor Meijer store at Pardee and Eureka.
The Success of the Festival
The festival is coordinated by the City of Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation, which relies on sponsorships from community businesses to keep it such a summertime staple.
Major sponsors include Meijer, which has a store in Taylor; Masco, a Fortune 200 company whose world headquarters are located in Taylor; and Fritz Enterprises Inc., a Taylor success story. Other primary sponsors are National City Bank, Taylor Ford and Oakwood Heritage Hospital, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary in the city.
Sponsorships in 2006 allowed the festival to become a break-even event for the first time in city history.
“Last year’s festival was super successful thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, elected officials and support from our residents,” said Joe Nardone, executive director of Golf, Parks and Recreation. “We have an unprecedented concert lineup this year and are looking forward to many residents of southeastern Michigan visiting the city to enjoy the outstanding family-friendly entertainment.”
Nardone said the festival has become a significant part of family life in Taylor.
“The city and its residents send a special thank you to Meijer, Masco, Fritz Enterprises and the numerous other local businesses that sponsor the festival,” Nardone said. “Their generous donations help make our festival a ‘can’t-miss’ event.”
For More Information
For more information, call (734) 374-3906 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, visit the City of Taylor Web site at www.cityoftaylor.com, or consult the summer edition of Taylor Info, the official city newsletter.
2007 Meijer Taylor Summer Festival Schedule
Thursday, July 12
5 p.m.-Midnight Carnival
6 p.m.-Midnight Vegas Games
Friday, July 13
3 p.m.-Midnight Carnival
6 p.m.-Midnight Vegas Games
3:45-10 p.m. 106.7 The Fox presents Free Concerts
Tommy Steele, 3:45 p.m.
Red Hill, 5:45 p.m.
Sarah Johns, 7 p.m.
John Anderson, 8:45 p.m.
Dusk Masco Fireworks
(Fireworks music simulcast on 106.7-FM, The Fox)
Saturday, July 14
8 a.m. Rollie Hopgood Midtown Taylor 5K Run, 9 a.m.
Free Kids’ Tadpole Run, 8:15 a.m.
Free One-Mile Fun Run, 8:30 a.m.
9 a.m.-Noon During the 5K Run and Family Day activities, enjoy brunch served at a special price by Pete’s Place outside the Heritage Park Activity Building.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oakwood Heritage Hospital presents Family Day
Games, music, prizes and fun in front of the Heritage Park Activity Building.AM 910 Radio Disney attractions (DJ, tattoos, prize wheel)
Oakwood Heritage Hospital Teddy Bear Clinic
Face Painting, Balloon Art, Sandy Candy, Sand Art, Skore Lanes
10-10:30 a.m. Toddler Races: 18 months-2 years; 3-4 years
10:30-11 a.m. Three-Legged Race (child/adult team): 5-8 years; 9-12 years
11-11:45 a.m. Egg and Spoon Race (child/adult team): 1-4 years; 5-8 years; 9-12 years
11:45-12:30 p.m. Jell-O Eating Contest: 5-8 years; 9-12 years... Apple Pie Eating Contest: 5-8 years; 9-12 years
12:30-1 p.m. Water Balloon Toss (child/adult team): Open to all ages
1-2 p.m. AM 910 Radio Disney D-Tour: Performance with music, games and prizes
Noon-Midnight Carnival
2 p.m.-Midnight Vegas Games
3:15-10 p.m. 94.7 WCSX presents Concerts at Heritage Park
TBA, 3:15 p.m.
Pasman Supersession, 4:15 p.m.
Eddie Leighton Project with Steve Kostan, 5:15 p.m.
Kansas, 6:30 p.m.
REO Speedwagon, 8:45 p.m.
Tickets to Saturday’s performances are $15 in advance at the Taylor Meijer Store or TicketMaster and $25 on the day of the show.
Sunday, July 15
8-11 a.m. Taylor Rotary Fishing Derby
Noon-6 p.m. Carnival
12:30-4 p.m. AM 910 Radio Disney Presents Concerts in Heritage Park
Lynnae Winnie, 12:30 p.m.
Radio Disney D-Tour, 1 p.m.
Cheetah Girls, 2:15 p.m.
Tickets to the Sunday performances are $20 in advance at the Taylor Meijer Store or TicketMaster or $30 at the gate.
2 p.m.-Midnight Vegas Games
