The Third Annual Downtown Days is coming to a new location at Veteran's Plaza, located in the heart of downtown Wayne. This year the event will commemorate the city's 150th birthday. Festivities will be held Friday, August 9 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, August 10, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free to attend and promises two days of fun, food, music, art, and a flea market.

The event is presented by Wayne Main Street, a civic organization founded in 2011, which seeks to promote downtown Wayne as the heart of the community and sponsors programming and events that draw people to the downtown area. Paul Sposite, Board Member of Wayne Main Street and Chair of Downtown Days says, "Wayne Main Street is excited about the changes we have made in this year's event, with the new location of Veterans Plaza, and all-day entertainment." Sponsors for the event include DTE Energy, Beaumont Health, and Helium Studio.

Musical entertainment for the two days will include the bands YankeeVille, and Braxton Davis Motown Review, local acts Blues Preacher Creighton and TC and the Katz, along with Toppermost Beatles Tribute and an Elvis Tribute. Concerts are free to attend and acts will perform on the main stage at Veterans Plaza. Jacob Fuchs, intern with Wayne Main Street comments, "All of the acts we have in store for this year's festival will be a great way to keep community members engaged and provide entertainment for different audiences throughout the weekend." The concert area will also feature food trucks, a beer tent, and sponsor booths.

Art and local creativity will be part of the fun as well. The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is returning for a third year to host a Drop-In Workshop in which crafters, young and old alike, will have a chance to create paper flowers. "This is our third year working with the DIA, and we couldn't be happier to continue our partnership with them by having another workshop at this year's event," says Maxwell Cameron, Executive Director of Wayne Main Street. The workshop will run Friday only from noon to 5 p.m.

The celebration will also be home to one of the quirkiest art contests around. The Art-O-Motive Car Hood Design Contest returns for a second year. Car hoods embellished by local artists will be on display and community members will have opportunity to cast their vote for their favorite design. "We want to give local artists an opportunity to showcase their talents right here in Wayne, and this wonderful contest

is an opportunity to do just that," says Cameron. Contest winners will be announced on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Local photographers will have their turn in the spotlight as well. The Window on Wayne Photography Contest is currently ongoing. The contest, sponsored by Helium Studios, features more than two dozen photos focusing on the city of Wayne. Online voting is encouraged by the community at http://www.facebook.com/windowonwaynephotocontest/. Simply hit the "Like" button on your favorite photo. Photos will be displayed at the Wayne Public Library where in-person voting will take place. Winners will be announced on Saturday at 5 p.m.

A flea market/community garage sale will round out the highlights of the celebration. The flea market will run until 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, and will feature antiques, collectibles, arts and crafts, and practical items for the home from around the region. Sposite says the flea market provides an opportunity for individuals and vendors to display their unique wares.

Organizers are anticipating attendance to top 4,000. Veterans Plaza is located at 34841 Veterans Plaza Street, next to the Wayne Public Library in downtown Wayne. For more information on the event see Wayne Main Street's website at http://www.downtownwayne.org.