DIY Street Fair and Funky Ferndale Art Fair Return Sept. 25-27
Ferndale, MI – Downtown Ferndale will be packed with art, music, food and creativity Sept. 25-27, when two longtime festivals take place during the same weekend – DIY Street Fair and Funky Ferndale!
The annual DIY Street Fair and the Ferndale art fair will bring hundreds of artists, makers, musicians, food vendors and visitors to the city for three days of festivities.
DIY Street Fair
The annual DIY Street Fair will transform the streets on the east side of Woodward Avenue near Nine Mile and Woodward into a free, three-day celebration of arts, music, food and community.
Festival hours are:
- Friday, Sept. 25: 6 p.m.-11 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Noon-9 p.m.
The Marketplace will feature more than 150 artists, crafters and entrepreneurs offering handmade goods and original creations. Restaurant Row will showcase Ferndale’s food scene with meals, snacks and treats.
Live music will be featured throughout the weekend on the Main Stage, including national and local performers. Headliners include Shannon Shaw of Shannon and the Clams, from Nashville; Illuminati Hotties, from Los Angeles; and Ratboys, from Chicago.
The DIY Street Fair was founded in 2008 as a community-driven celebration of Ferndale’s creative energy, social innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
“For 19 years, the DIY Street Fair has served as the beating heart of Metro Detroit’s creative pulse,” said Krista Johnston, executive director and co-founder. “This is where Ferndale’s independent and creative spirit overflows into the streets. It is a privilege and honor to showcase these incredibly talented artisans and musicians.”
Admission to the DIY Street Fair is free, and the event is open to all ages.
More information is available at ferndalediy.com.
Funky Ferndale Art Fair
Also taking place Sept. 25-27 is an art fair featuring more than 140 artists, with organizers noting that more than half of this year’s artists are new to Ferndale.
The fair’s theme is “Get funky with us! Take home the art.”
Hours are:
- Friday, Sept. 25: 5-9 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 27: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
The show will feature fine art, mixed media, jewelry, digital art and other creative work. Organizers say more than 50 artists are new to the show this year, while many longtime favorites are returning.
Among the featured artists are Tim Gralewski, whose hand-pulled fine art prints are each different; mixed-media artist Kelly O’Neill; jeweler Herb Brown; and artists Alissa Renzetti, Ralph Rankin and Mary Miller.
The event also emphasizes participation, not just shopping.
Visitors can make puppets and participate in a parade, with organizers inviting people to help create giant puppets for the art fair. Community members can help build a giant robot or make something of their own during drop-in puppet-making sessions from 4-7 p.m. on Sundays, Sept. 13 and 20, at Allen at Troy, at the northwest corner of the parking structure.
Participants can then march in the art fair wearing their own costume or one of the festival’s creations. Registration is available at intshows.com/puppet.
The fair will also include make-and-take art opportunities, including participation from organizations such as the Detroit Institute of Arts.
With two separate festivals happening at the same time, Ferndale will offer plenty of opportunities Sept. 25-27 for visitors to browse handmade work, meet artists, listen to live music, eat local food and get involved in making something themselves.
