River Rouge Days, the city’s annual summertime festival, will return for the 88th year this weekend, featuring rides, games, food, shopping and live entertainment.
The festival — which typically is held over Labor Day Weekend — will run Sept. 17 to 20 at Memorial Park on West Jefferson Avenue in River Rouge.
Here’s a look at the festival highlights:
Catching the carnival
The four-day festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday with the opening of the carnival.
The carnival opens again at 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Wristbands for unlimited rides, which cost $20, are buy one get one free from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday for Kids Day [[check the Sept. 16 edition of The News-Herald for clippable wristband coupons). A $5 off special offer is available for the rest of the carnival hours. For more, visit
www.elliotsamusements.com.
Festival traditions
The festival will open at 5 p.m. Friday with a flag-raising and community ceremony, featuring a performance of “God Bless the USA” at Memorial Park.
Also true to River Rouge Days tradition, a parade will march along West Jefferson Avenue beginning at noon Saturday and showcasing an array of community groups and city staples.
The seventh annual United Streets Machine Car Show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Activities for adults
The beer tent, a festival favorite, will be serving starting at 5 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday and Sunday. Drinks will be poured until midnight all three days.
A live disc jockey, performers bringing the sound of Motown, line dancing lessons, cornhole games and a raffle will be hosted at the beer tent throughout the weekend.
Especially for kids
On Saturday, little ones can enjoy free train rides and stop into the pavilion to meet the Balloon Man and create wax hands. In the library tent, children can join in for craft time and story hour.
On Sunday, the River Rouge firehouse will be open and firefighters will talk to children about fire safety.
