Dodge Park prepares for Thursday fun

STERLING HEIGHTS — If you visit Dodge Park on a Thursday evening soon, it’ll be hard to miss many of the scheduled summertime activities.

A central hub of action during Dodge Park Thursdays is the Dodge Park Farmers Market, which will operate 3-8 p.m. Thursdays June 1-Sept. 28.

Sterling Heights Recreation Supervisor Troy Nowotny said he has been working on organizing this year’s farmers market. Nowotny said the pavilion expects to host 35-40 vendors weekly. He added that some new, exciting vendors are bringing variety and “a lot of hype.”

“We’ve got a meat vendor that we haven’t had in a long time,” he said. “We’ve got one or two new farmers that will be at the market, some baked good vendors (and) a couple of condiment vendors that we didn’t have in the past.”

Nowotny also said he expects 10-12 food trucks to show up at the market weekly, including the introduction of six to eight new trucks in the rotation.

Children can make crafts at the farmer market’s kids corner, which is being brought back this year.

“It’s something we had pre-COVID,” Nowotny added.

Running alongside the farmers market is the Music in the Park summer concert series, which presents live entertainment at 7 p.m. at Dodge Park’s amphitheater.

Bands are scheduled for the following dates: June 1, The Prolifics; June 8, Atomic Radio; June 15, Bernadette Kathryn and the Lonely Days Band; June 22, Mainstreet Soul; June 29, Simply Queen; July 6, Wayback Machine; July 13, Lazo & Exodus; July 20, Class of ’98; Aug. 3, The Family Tradition Band; Aug. 10, Kathleen Murray and The Groove Council; Aug. 17, Magic Bus; and Aug. 24, Your Generation in Concert.    

City officials say the bands cover the gamut of genres, from Motown, dance and party music to rock, reggae and more. Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Langlois said fan favorites are returning, such as the tribute act Simply Queen and the local entertainer Bernadette Kathryn. He welcomed the new acts.

“Every year, we have a goal in mind to provide a diverse mix of musical styles for our residents to enjoy,” Langlois said. “This year, I’m extremely excited about bringing in a genre I’ve never before seen in my time in Sterling Heights here, which is reggae. … We attempt to bring out as many people as we can. That’s our goal: to have a welcoming place for our residents.”

In addition, the concert area is screening films during two Movie in the Park events: “Strange World” on June 22 and “DC League of Super-Pets” on Aug. 10. There also will be a Cool Car Show on the premises July 6.

Dodge Park Thursdays will also have a few special themed events this year, most happening in September. June 29 will be Pride Day, Sept. 7 will feature a Pet Parade, Sept. 14 will offer a Market Fit event, Sept. 21 will be Fall Day and Sept. 28 will be a Touch A Truck day.

Dodge Park is located at 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights. While some parking is available on-site, Dodge Park Thursdays attendees may also park by the Community Center, the Senior Center or the Richard J. Notte Sterling Heights City Center.

Learn more by visiting sterling-heights.net/1236/Dodge-Park-Thursdays or by calling (586) 446-2700.