FERNDALE – Minneapolis rock band Sick of Sarah has been signed to headline the sixth annual Ferndale Pride street fair on Saturday, June 4. Listed on the website After Ellen as a "small city Pride that is worth the trip," Ferndale Pride draws more than 15,000 people for a full week of events leading up to the daylong street fair.
"This will be our biggest Pride ever," said Julia Music, Ferndale Pride's event chair. "We've increased our footprint to Troy Street. More space will make it more comfortable for the crowd and allow more booths and food trucks."
The street fair will include more than 100 vendors, and a total of eight bands, disc jockeys and other performers that will converge on downtown Ferndale. Music said securing Sick of Sarah as the headliner was a major coup.
"Sick of Sarah has been our number one requested group from fans of Ferndale Pride for two years in a row," she said. "Luckily, this year their schedule fit ours and we are able to have them grace our main stage. Their strong punk rock style is perfect for the main stage of this event. Sick of Sarah is the perfect band for those who like to rock."
Other performers scheduled for the main stage on Saturday include For Ghosts, Katie Stanley and Scarlet Lies. The dance stage's lineup will include Detroit Music Awards winner DJ Maestro and Octavia.
"I look forward to 'hello' and 'goodbye' not being used as a greeting," said Music. "On Pride day, everyone says 'happy pride' in Ferndale. "
A week's worth of events to take place in the city
In addition to the street fair, Ferndale Pride will be hosting events all throughout the week leading up to it. Pre-pride events will include a Hot Daddies contest on Friday, May 27 at SoHo, which is located at 205 W. Nine Mile Road. The contest will feature men age 35 or older competing for the title of "Hottest." Then on Thursday, June 2, Ferndale Pride's All Media Art Exhibition will open from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pittmann-Puckett Art Gallery inside Affirmations.
On Sunday, June 5, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce will present its annual Rainbow Run, which includes 5K and 2K running/walking routes. New this year is a 2K Canine Color Walk. A full day of free events will also be presented Sunday, June 5 as part of the Transgender Day of Empowerment from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Affirmations. Finally, Rosie O'Grady's Drag Queen and King Brunch will offer shows starting at 1 and 3 p.m. Rosie O'Grady's is located at 279 W. Nine Mile Road.
There are still open spots for vendors at the street fair. If you're interested, go to http://www.ferndalepride.com. Proceeds from Ferndale Pride will benefit Affirmations, Ferncare Free Clinic, Ferndale Community Foundation, Matrix Human Services MAC Health and Transgender Michigan.
