Hamtown spectacle: Weekend on Jos. Campau features ethnic foods, music and Polish Day Parade
Aug 29 - Sept. 1
Begun in the early 1980s, this is the grandmother (no, let's just say it, the feisty babcia) of all Detroit area street festivals.
Over the past three decades, the
Hamtramck Labor Day Festival has welcomed millions of guests (no exaggeration) to the historic city within a city, blessed by being smack in the middle of Detroit, accessible to all in the metro area. Wherever you are, you are within walking, biking or driving distance of
Hamtramck.
The 28th Hamtramck Festival features live music, samplings of ethnic food, cultural dancers, carnival rides and activities for kids of all ages. A highlight of the weekend is the
Polish Day Parade, held each Labor Day. The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. Monday and stretches from Holbrook north to Commor St.
Some of the featured bands include Aquarius Void, Powertrane, Michael Quatro, American Mars, I, Crime, the Kielbasa Kings and, of course, the Polish Muslims, a festival favorite. On Sunday, there will be a Polka Mass with Big Daddy Lackowski and the LaDeDa's followed by a polka with the stars contest. That's at 11 a.m.
Held on the north end of the Hamtramck business district, on Jos Campau between Caniff and Carpenter, this year's festival begins Friday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. and runs through Monday, Sept. 1.