Weekends start on Thursdays in Chelsea, where the popular Sounds and Sights on Thursday nights entertainment series has been fine-tuning the art of the summer party since 2003.
But this year – for one weekend – the party doesn’t end when the clock strikes midnight. Sounds and Sights has adopted and expanded Chelsea’s long-running Summer Fest, blending three days of free street entertainment with food, art and fun things to see and do.
The weekend event, now called the Sounds and Sights Festival, runs from July 29 through 31.
“It made sense from so many perspectives to do this,” said Craig Common, one of the event organizers. “Sponsors are asked once, we can market under one umbrella and tap into each other’s volunteer base. This event will really grow in years to come.”
The festival is the combined effort of the Sounds and Sights and festival committees, the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chelsea Center for the Arts, and downtown merchants. The Chelsea Downtown Development Authority sponsors the event, with support from Chelsea State Bank and Chelsea Milling, Co.
“We have some new things lined up and an amazing list of nightly performers,” Common said. “We ordered the biggest tent we could find for what we think will be huge crowds to see the lineup we’ve assembled.”
The festival has incorporated Thursday’s Sounds and Sights schedule for an additional night of entertainment under the tent, with additional performers on street stages all three nights. The Thursday night main stage lineup has a local flavor, opening with The Ben Daniels Band followed by the techno-pop duo Champions of Breakfast. The headliner band for the evening is My Dear Disco, a genre-defying group that the Windy City Times calls “an electronic group that’s not afraid to rock out.” They have a huge Michigan and Facebook following and an upcoming gig at Lollapalooza this summer.
Friday night features two of Detroit’s most popular bands – the Howling Diablos followed by The SunMessengers. Saturday night closes with the return of NoteWorthy and festival favorite, Fifty Amp Fuse, a group eight-time Grammy award winning producer and Toto member David Paich calls “the greatest cover band I’ve ever seen.”
“In over 30 years that this event has been going, this is without a doubt the best entertainment schedule we have ever had,” Common said.
Tickets for each night are $5, and all ages are welcome. There will be select V.I.P. lounge seating available for $25 per night, or $50 for the all three nights.
Other changes and additions to the event include an expanded food court featuring eight to 10 restaurants, an open-air art market throughout downtown, and much more entertainment.
Some favorite attractions from Summer Fest return, including the Pet Parad on Saturday, the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company KidZone, the Friday night Classic Car Show, SculptureWalk Chel-sea, and the social tent.
SRSLY Cinema will be showing free outdoor movies at dusk on Thursday and Friday nights, and the Chelsea Rotary Club will hold their annual Duck Race Saturday afternoon. The Chelsea Area Historical Society will guide daily historic home walking tours.
Downtown merchants will be teaming with local artists and vendors for instore demos, activities and displays. The Chelsea Teddy Bear KidZone runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a hands-on craft tent, Colors the Clown, a bike skidding competition, bounce zone, jugglers, magicians, face painting and more.
The Classic Car Show has become a destination event of its own with over 200 vehicles on display and entertainment from Elvis impersonators. The show runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
For a list of activities and events, visit www.chelseafestivals.com or call the CCA at 1-734-433-2787.
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