1. Street Art Fest
July 16 • Downtown Berkley
The Berkley Street Art Fest will take place from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. July 16, on Coolidge Highway between Catalpa Drive and Beverly Boulevard. The event will feature vendors, musical entertainment and activities for children, including a bounce house. The highlight will be a chalk art contest where adults, youths, families and teams can register to compete for prizes and money. For more information, visit berkleystreetartfest.com/chalkart.
Read the story: Street Art Fest to color the streets of Berkley
2. Festa Italiana festival
July 15-17 • Freedom Hill County Park, Sterling Heights
The 2022 Festa Italiana festival will take place from 6 to 11 p.m. July 15, noon to 11 p.m. July 16 and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 17 at Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Highway in Sterling Heights. The event promises Italian and American food, as well as beer and wine. A fireworks show will illuminate Friday night, and a Catholic Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Throughout the weekend, there will be contests themed around “Italian American Idol,” meatballs, cannoli eating and the cutest baby. Admission is free; parking costs $10 per vehicle per day. For more information, visit iaccm.net or facebook.com/FestaItaliana MI, or call (586) 925-2020.
Read the story: Festa Italiana ready to pass the pasta and more
3. Oddities & Curiosities Expo
July 16 • Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 16 at the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi. The event will feature vendors selling things such as preserved specimens, dark art, Halloween items, unusual jewelry, odd antiques, clothing, curiosities and more. Admission and parking both cost $10; ages 12 and younger can enter for free. The expo also will feature sideshow entertainment such as sword swallowing, a bed of nails performance and, for an extra fee, a two-headed duckling taxidermy class and the Museum of Marvelous Mutations. For more information, visit odditiesandcuriousitiesexpo.com.
Read the story: Oddities & Curiosities Expo coming to Suburban Collection Showplace
4. Farmington Founders Festival
July 14-16 • Downtown Farmington
The Farmington Founders Festival will celebrate its 58th summer in the downtown area July 14-16. The beer tent and food court will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. July 14. The Farmington Founders Festival Parade will begin at 10 a.m. July 15 on Grand River Avenue, between Powers and Farmington roads. The Crafters Market Beer Tent with live music, the Farmington Fido Fest, Touch A Truck, a kids foam party, a mobile gaming trailer, ax throwing and more will be offered July 15-16. Friday and Saturday hours will run 10 a.m.-11 p.m. For more information, visit foundersfestival.com or view the Founders Festival Facebook Page.
Read the story: Farmington Founders Festival set to return
5. Festival of Chariots
July 17 • Novi Civic Center
The 37th annual Festival of Chariots, a 1,000 year-old spiritual festival from India, which is celebrated around the world, will start at 11 a.m. July 17 at Novi Civic Center, 45175 W. 10 Mile Road. Thousands of people of varied faiths are expected to help pull a 40-foot-tall chariot — carrying the Lord Jagannath, his brother Balarama and sister Subhadra — for 3 miles to Fuerst Park, all the while playing songs with drums, tambourines and trumpets.
Read the story: Festival of Chariots returns to Novi July 17