And the next afternoon, the Plymouth Fall Festival will open to the public with games, booths, entertainment and the traditional Rotary Chicken Barbeque on Sunday. Fall Festival President Andrea Gerber said she and the committee which organizes the civic event expect to see large crowds again this year as this event offers the public a chance to help give back to the community.
“Every booth, every activity at the festival is connected to a civic group and a portion, or all, of the revenue generated during the festival goes back to the club or team or organization. This is a once-a-year event when every civic group joins in a combined fundraising effort, she said.
Gerber said she and the other board members are “excited” about the festival this year. “We met last week and the energy was really positive. These are really great people all doing something for the community,” she said.
A new feature at the festival this year will be the first Barbeque Spare Rib Dinner served from 3 until 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 by members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 528. The veterans are planning to cook about 300 spare rib dinners during the afternoon, just prior to the live music performance in the huge tent behind E.G. Nicks in the restaurant parking lot. The complete dinners are priced at $15.
Bingo games will be available in The Gathering, across from Kellogg Park, from 6 until 9 p.m. Friday. The games are a fundraising event for the Plymouth Canton Little League group and have several special bingo prizes during the evening.
Friday night also features the popular Party Tent behind E.G. Nick's restaurant on Forest Street. As the veterans pack up their grills, the Atomic Radio band will be setting up to perform from 8 p.m. until midnight. There is a $5 cover charge which is donated to the local Vietnam Veterans group.
The decades-old traditional Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast will, as usual, begin serving pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee in The Gathering, across from Kellogg Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The generous breakfasts are priced at $7 and help fund the Kiwanis efforts to make the world a better place for children.
The beloved Optimist Club Pet Show will begin with a pet parade just before the 9 a.m. contest for the longest and shortest ears or tails and several other unique categories. Pets can be registered before the free event just before the contest. Nearly everyone goes home with a ribbon and all types of pets are eligible to compete.
Following the pet show on the Kellogg Park stage will be the Chiefettes, Sabersteam Rocket's Pompon squad. At noon, the Plymouth Library will present Cameron Zvara, a comedy magician. At 2 p.m. Dance Beat/Forever After Productions takes the stage just before the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps. At 4:30 the Polish National Alliance Centennial Dancers will perform and at 7 p.m. Geff Philips and Friends will take to the stage.
Returning to the festival Saturday evening is the popular Rotary Spaghetti Dinner. This will be the 12th year that the Rotary Club of Plymouth A.M. has staged the event. Organizers said the dinners will be served from 4 until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in the huge tent behind E.G. Nick's restaurant on Forest Avenue. This year, dinner for adults is an all you can eat event. The $15 meal includes an ample serving of pasta with marinara sauce and two meatballs, a salad, specialty bread from The Whitney, a Jimmy John's chocolate chip cookie, a bottle of spring water and coffee or tea. The dinner preparation is supervised by Chef Frank Agostini from E.G. Nick's and Tim Patino, former chef and now general manager of The Whitney Restaurant in Detroit.
Power Play Detroit will entertain in the Party Tent from 8 p.m. until midnight. The $5 cover charge will be donated to the Plymouth Vietnam Veterans. The funds are used to help veterans in need throughout the area. The tent in the E.G. Nick's parking lot will open at 7 p.m.
On the Kellogg Park Stage at 11 a.m. Sunday, Midwest Tai-kwon Do will present an exhibition and at noon, Ovation Performing Arts will entertain. At 1 p.m. a music adventures class for ages 6 months - to 4 years is planned and from 3 until 5 p.m. the Dearborn Big Band will perform.
Sunday, of course, is the Rotary Chicken Barbeque when about 700 volunteers cook 10,000 chicken dinners in one afternoon. Dinners, priced at $15, will be available beginning at 11 a.m., if all goes well, according to Barbeque Chairman Andy Savage.
Advance tickets at discounted prices are available for nearly all the service club events from members or at the ticket booths which will be set up on Main Street.
The car show and the craft show will be open during festival hours all weekend, along with the numerous vendor booths. The amusement rides and carnival food trucks will usually open at 11 a.m. There is a special Sunday ticket wristband available for rides this year.
A complete guide to the events and programs is available at the associatednewspapers.com website with free print editions available at local businesses throughout the community and at multiple festival and ticket booths.
