The fourth annual DIY Street Fair returns to Ferndale this September to celebrate creativity and "do-it-yourself" pursuits with a free showcasing of local business and original crafters and their unique products in the southeast quadrant of Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.
Attendees can expect to see handmade, home-cooked, locally brewed and ecologically friendly crafts, food and drinks. Many vendors are also offering performances, recordings and hands-on activities.
Launched in 2008, the DIY Street Fair has grown larger every year. "The response and support from the community has been phenomenal," said Ferndale business owner Chris Johnston, who originated the concept of the DIY Fair, in the press release. "We've been just barely able to accommodate the demand for booths." To accommodate the fair's increasing popularity, the market's stretch of Nine Mile will both accommodate additional vendors and open Friday night for the first time.
Exhibitors and vendors will line the outdoor marketplace while the fair's main stage will showcase live music of independent regional artists throughout the weekend. Musician's performances will continue into the evening, relocating to a number of venues surrounding the fair site.
The DIY Street Fair has sought to keep the fair as reflective of its venue's surroundings as possible. "What makes this fair unique is its participant roster, which we curate based on local presence, originality, grass-roots nature, and contribution to local creative culture," said Carey Gustafson, Handmade Detroit co-founder and DIY Street Fair board member during its first three seasons. "Every inch of the fair is somehow associated with Detroit and the surrounding area, if not completely of it."
The DIY Street Fair runs Sept. 16-18 in the Southeast quadrant of Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale. Admission is free. For more information, go to http://www.diystreetfair.com or call 248-709-7673.
