Taylor Summertime Fun Festival

Taylor Summertime Fun Festival is July 10-12 at Heritage Park

The 2009 Taylor Summertime Fun Festival is scheduled for July 10-12 at Heritage Park.

The family friendly  festival features three days of carnival rides, games, special events, entertainment, food, beverages and fun for the whole family.

New attractions this year include the Michigan Business Expo, a charity barbecue cook-off benefiting the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, Touch a Truck for children, a charity softball tournament benefiting the Make a Wish Foundation, two mud volleyball tournaments (including one for young people), the presentation of a movie in the park ("Hotel for Dogs") and two days of Family Day activities.

The Concerts

Five bands will perform free concerts on Saturday, July 11. The schedule:

  • Rattlebox, Noon
  • Whitey Morgan and the 78s, 2 p.m.
  • Cash Creek, 4 p.m.
  • The BackBeats, 6 p.m.
  • Fifty Amp Fuse, 8 p.m.

No bottles, cans or coolers are permitted in the concert area.

The Carnival

  • Friday, July 10, is "Dollar Night." From 4 to 11 p.m., each ride will cost one ticket. Each ticket is $1. There also will be select food items for only $1.
  • Ride All Day Wristbands are $20 at the festival. But you can purchase them in advance for $14 through July 9 at the Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation Office, 22805 Goddard Road.

The Sporting Events

  • The Rollie Hopgood Midtown Taylor 5K Run and Walk travels through the streets of Taylor and the trails of Heritage Park, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 12. A kids’ Tadpole Run around Coan Lake in the park begins at 8:15 a.m. And a free one-mile fun run starts at 8:30 a.m. For information on the 5K, visit the Web site www.everalracemgt.com or www.downriverrunners.org. By the way, the 5K Run/Walk participants enjoy a free brunch served by Pete’s Place just outside the Heritage Park Activity Building.
  • The annual Taylor Rotary Fishing Derby is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, July 12, in Heritage Park. The derby is limited to 100 children, ages 5 to 12, who compete for prizes. The entry fee is only $2 and includes a T-shirt and refreshments. Register at the Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation Office, 22805 Goddard Road.
  • There will be two mud volleyball tournaments this year: one for young players and one for adults. The Junior Mud Volleyball Tournament is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11. It's open to players ages 14 to 17. Admission is $50 per team. The annual Mud Volleyball Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, June 12. The entry fee is $85 per team. The format is the same for both tournaments: There are six players per team; at least three players must be female. Advance registration is required at the Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation, 22805 Goddard Road. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.
  • A charity softball tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation is set for the weekend. There will be a men's division and a co-ed division. The tournament will have a double-elimination format. Trophies will be awarded. The team entry fee of $175 must be paid by July 7. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.

The Michigan Business Expo

Taylor Ford presents the Michigan Business Expo from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 11 and Noon to 5 p.m. July 12 outside the Sheridan Community Center at 12111 Pardee Road. The City of Taylor recognizes now more than ever the importance of supporting Michigan businesses. Everyone is invited to see what our local businesses have to offer. Admission is free to the public. Vendor space is available for $100 per 10-by-10-foot space. Businesses are encouraged to display and sell merchandise, distribute brochures, provide demonstrations and promotions and offer discounts. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.

The Barbecue Cook-off

A barbecue cook-off featuring local restaurants is set for 1 to 6 p.m Saturday, July 11, outside the Sheridan Community Center, 12111 Pardee Road. Visitors can sample food for $5 and vote for the winners in several categories. Restaurants can enter the first competition for a $50 entry fee and $10 for each category after that. All proceeds go to the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry. Vendor spaces are available. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.

The Vegas Games

The Vegas room in the Heritage Park Activity Building benefits the Junior League World Series of baseball. The World Series, which attracts the best teams of 13- and 14-year-old players from around the world to Taylor, is scheduled for August 16-22 at Heritage Park.

The fifth No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament to benefit the World Series is set for Friday, July 10. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the tournament starts at 7 p.m. The $60 buy-in covers tournament play, beer, pop, water, snacks and pizza. There are optional re-buys and add-ons. The minimum guaranteed first place is $1,000. Winners of the two tournaments in 2008 received $1,100 and $1,300. The winner of the March 2009 tournament received $1,500. Ten percent of the field will cash. For more information on the card games, call Dan Bzura at (313) 292-9901 or Jeff Pizzo at (313) 914-5037.

The Family Days

  • The Family Day activities have been expanded to two days. (See the complete daily schedule below.)
  • A Battle of the Rock Bands is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Advance registration begins June 29. Admission is $10 per band. Prizes will be awarded.
  • Beyond Gaming Entertainment will present the "Game Station." Four big-screen TVs will be set up for gaming. Competition will be held throughout Family Day. All ages are welcome. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.
  • Fear Factor for teen-agers is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11, outside the Activity Building. On-site registration is required prior to each competition. Wear old clothing and prepare to get dirty.
  • There will be a DJ spinning favorite songs, a dunk tank, DDR, Ladder Golf, Baggo, cup stacking, a tug of war and a basketball shoot-out competition. Prizes will be awarded in various competitions.
  • Touch A Truck is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Children can get into, look at and touch different types of trucks.
  • Families are invited to a free Movie in the Park. "Hotel for Dogs" is set for dusk on Friday, July 10. There will be some pre-show entertainment as well. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.

Parking

There will be free on-site parking for the entire festival. Use the Northline Road entrance to Heritage Park. There will be free handicapped parking as well. Use the Pardee Road entrance. Alcohol is not permitted in any parking area. No roads will be closed during the festival. 

The Success of the Festival

The festival is coordinated by the City of Taylor Department of Parks and Recreation, which relies on sponsorships from community businesses to keep it such a summertime staple.

Major sponsors include the Masco Corporation Foundation, Taylor Ford, McKinley Real Estate Solutions, Pete's Place, Oakwood Healthcare, Johnson Rosati, Belfor Property Restoration, The News-Herald, Arrow Uniform, National City Bank, and Giamarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.

For More Information

For more information, call (734) 374-3906 from 9 a.m. to 5 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.

2009 Taylor Summertime Fun Festival Schedule

Friday, July 10

  • Carnival, 4 to 11 p.m.
  • Vegas Games, 6 p.m. to Midnight
  • Softball Tournament, TBD
  • Movie in the Park - "Hotel for Dogs," Dusk

Saturday, July 11

  • Rollie Hopgood Midtown Taylor 5K Run/Walk, 9 a.m.
    Free Kids’ Tadpole Run, 8:15 a.m.
    Free One-Mile Fun Run, 8:30 a.m.
  • 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.
  • Junior Mud Volleyball Tournament, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Family Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Children ages 18 months to 12 years and parents compete in games and contests, such as a three-legged race and water balloon toss.)
  • Family Day, 2 to 6 p.m. (Teens compete in various games and contests. This is presented by Mayor Cameron G. Priebe's Youth Advisory Council. A DJ will spin the hottest music. Dance Revolution will be on stage. There will be a dunk tank.)
  • Michigan Business Expo, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • FREE Concerts, Noon to 10 p.m. (Rattlebox, Noon; Whitey Morgan and the 78s, 2 p.m.; Cash Creek, 4 p.m.; The BackBeats, 6 p.m.; and Fifty Amp Fuse, 8 p.m.
  • Carnival, Noon to 11 p.m.
  • Barbecue Cook-off Benefiting the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, 1 to 6 p.m.
  • Fear Factor, 2 to 6 p.m.
  • Battle of the Rock Bands, 2 to 6 p.m.
  • Softball Tournament, TBD
  • Vegas Games, 2 p.m. to Midnight

Sunday, July 12

  • Children's Fishing Derby, Sponsored by the Taylor Rotary Club, 9 to 11 a.m.
  • Mud Volleyball Tournament, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Family Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Magic Show/Entertainment, 11 a.m. to Noon; Children's Games, Contests and Karaoke, Noon to 2 p.m.; Magic Show/Entertainment, 2 to 3 p.m.; Family Water Balloon Toss, 3 to 4 p.m. Also, on-site face painting, balloon artist, kiddie bowling, visit by a TV cartoon character and more.)
  • Touch a Truck, Noon to 4 p.m.
  • Michigan Business Expo, Noon to 5 p.m.
  • Carnival, Noon to 8 p.m.
  • Vegas Games, 2 p.m. to Midnight

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