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Wyandotte Street Art Fair Celebrates 50 Years

WYANDOTTE (WWJ) - If you're looking for one-of-a-kind pieces of art you need look no further than Downriver at the 50th annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair.

This year's fair includes 300 fine artists and crafters, 25 restaurants, a multitude of local merchants and live entertainment. But Fair Director Jody Chansalome said the event wasn't always so big.

"It started as more of a small group, and it grew from there to be kind of a sidewalk sale where merchants would join in, and it evolved into one of the largest fairs in Southeastern Michigan, outside of Ann Arbor," Chansalome said.

Returning to the fair this year is the popular "hide-and-seek" game for children, "Find Art."

"We have recreated him (Art) in a little two-dimensional cut-out and we hide him throughout the fair, so children 'Find Art' in the art, of course, and bring it back to the information booth," Chansalome said.

Once children find Art, they can turn him into the information booth for a special prize.

There's other activities to keep the kids busy, too. Families can visit the Children's Area, where the Detroit Institute of the Arts will be hosting a hands-on creative art workshop. Arts & Scraps will also be on hand with various recycled industrial materials to help kids think, create and learn with a hands-on crafting area.

Children can also participate in buying art at the Children's Emporium, a place where kids 12 and younger can purchase art donated by participating artists for under $5.

Visitors can enjoy an eclectic selection of talent on the Riverfront Stage, including Larry Lee and Back in the Day (Wed. 9:30 pm), Square Pegz (Thur. 9:30 pm), 50 Amp Fuse (Fri. 8:30 pm), Wisteria (Sat. 7:30 pm) and The Detroit Cobras (Sat. 10 pm).

Don't miss an appearance by Carl Lundgren, a well-known fantasy artist and rock poster illustrator who has created art for The Who, Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd, who will be located along the fair's Retro Row.

Over 25 food vendors will be on site offering classic favorites such as elephant ears, butterfly chips and fresh squeezed lemonade. The health conscious can also indulge with new organic and vegetarian options, including fresh-cut organic sweet potato fries and veggie burgers.

The fair is held from Wednesday, July 13 through Saturday, July 16, open from 10 am to 9 pm. The entertainment area is open from noon to 11 pm. For more information, visit www.wyandottestreetartfair.org. For a map of the fair, click here.

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