The Michigan Renaissance Festival is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 1, and Festival Friday, Sept. 29. (Media News Group file photo)
Business activities
• Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 26-27, at Suburban Collection Showcase, certified women-owned businesses, educational workshops, coaching, pitch competition, register at www.greatlakeswbc.org, individuals-$250.
• Michigan Design Center is giving one lucky winner the chance to win $25,000 towards designer-quality furnishings or custom services. The contest is open to end-user consumers who are Michigan residents, ages 18+. To enter, contestants need to create a “wish list” at www.michigandesign.com/event/mdcs-25000-wish-list-contest. Submissions accepted through 5 p.m. Oct. 2.
Charitable activities/Fundraisers
• Dishes Past-The Evening Edition” charity dinner is 7 p.m. Sept. 29, at Oakland History Center, 405 Cesar E Chavez, Pontiac, 248-338-6732, www.ocphs.org, $50, register at https://tinyurl/DishesPastEveningEdition.
• Cornerstone Community Financial credit union hosts its annual Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month toy drive to benefit patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit and Troy. The credit union invites the community to purchase and donate new games from curated online wish lists at Amazon, Target and Walmart, through September. Items start as low as $5. Cornerstone Community Financial will match every donation, donate at www.ccfinancial.com.
• Free Bikes 4 Kidz’ (FB4K) will be collecting used bikes from the public, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 30, at nine Home Depot stores and four other locations. The bikes will then be transported and restored in a warehouse, and then distributed to under-served children in the metro Detroit area. Free Bikes 4 Kidz’ seeks donations of used bikes, and volunteers to help restore the bikes, Fb4kdetroit.org, 734-812-3035.
• Annual Bloomfield Charity Antiques and Collectibles Show is Sept. 29-30 at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 1100 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, to benefit Camp Restore Detroit, (Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday). Event includes appraisals, excluding jewelry from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 30, ($10 per item with a limit of three items per person). Event includes concessions, www.bloomfieldcross.org/antiqueshow.
• Pars Fore Pink Annual Golf Outing is 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 2, at Birmingham Country Club, 1750 Saxon Drive, Birmingham, Shades of Pink Foundation benefits individuals who are undergoing breast cancer treatment, www.shadesofpinkfoundation.org. Registration is $400, (includes eighteen holes of golf, lunch and dinner) $100 for dinner only.
• Annual “A Walk for M.E.” 5K walk/run for Mental Health & Education, is Oct. 7, starting at 9:30 a.m., at Kensington Metropark, 4570 Huron River Pkwy., Milford. Hosted by John Evan Cash Foundation, Johnevancashfoundation.org. The event features a performance by musician Kimmie Horn. To participate in the walk, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Milford/JECF2023AWalkforME, $11.60 race and signup fee.
• Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County 11th Annual Fall Gala is 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7, at the M1 Concourse Event Center. The event will include appetizers and four-course dinner provided by Andiamo Italia, open bar, music and dancing, silent auction and live auction. Purchase tickets at www.habitatoakland.org/event/11th-annual-fall-gala.
• Annual Forever Home Run 5k Run/Walk is 9 a.m. Oct. 7, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills, includes family fun race, costume parade, family-friendly activities, www.foreverhomerun.com, $35+ per runner.
• Neighborhood House “Scare Away Hunger” 5K Run/Family Fun Run is 9 a.m. Oct. 8, at Rochester Municipal Park, post-race celebration includes music and snacks. Online registration is at www.ranh.org/events. Registration Fee: 5K Walk/Run $40, Family Fun Run $10.
• Farmington Hills Annual Hawk Hustle 5K Event is 9 a.m. Oct. 8, starting at the Hawk Community Center for persons of all ages and abilities. Registration is $35+ after, https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/FarmingtonHills/HAWKHUSTLE5KRUNWALK.
• Shades Of Pink Foundation Comedy Night with Comedian Tracy DeGraaf is 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 11, The Community House 380 South Bates St., Birmingham, light dinner, cash bar, www.shadesofpinkfoundation.org/events-2-1/annual-comedy-event, $50+.
• The Detroit Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Oct. 28 at the Detroit Zoo. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the opening ceremony is at 9 a.m., with the walk to immediately follow. Those interested in participating are still welcome to sign up, start a team or donate at act.alz.org/detroit.
Expos
• Michigan Women’s Expo: Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The three-day expo will feature hundreds of women-owned and women-focused businesses offering products, services, samples, and demonstrations, latest fashion trends, health and wellness tips, runway fashion shows, admission at the door or online is $13 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-14 and free for children 2 and younger, www.kohlerexpo.com/schedule-michigan-womens-expo.
Festivals
• Funky Ferndale Art Fair is Sept. 22-24, (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday), more than 140 juried artists and authors, west of Woodward on Nine Mile, Troy and Allen Streets, www.funkyferndaleartfair.com.
• DIY Street Fair is Sept. 22-24, (11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 24), bands, artists, crafters, restaurants, food trucks, on the east side of Woodward between E. Nine Mile Road and E. Troy St., www.ferndalediy.com.
• Common Ground’s Birmingham Street Art Fair is Sept. 23-24, (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday), Shain Park, Birmingham, to benefit Common Ground, www.theguild.org/fair/common-ground-art-fair.
• The Michigan Renaissance Festival is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 1, and Festival Friday, Sept. 29, at 12600 Dixie Hwy., Holly, michrenfest.com. interactive outdoor event styled as a 16th Century European village with entertainment of the time period, vendors and food. Themed weekends, parking pass required, ticket prices vary.
• American Speed Festival: Sept. 28-Oct. 1, M1 Concourse, Pontiac, vintage Indy cars, historic stock cars, race track, automotive art expo, food trucks, m1concourse.com, ticket prices vary.
• Annual City of Clawson Fall Festival: 3-7 p.m. Sept. 30, at Clawson City Park 935 N. Custer, Clawson, petting zoo, musician Angela Predhomme, hayrides, Clawson Senior Center Bake sale, food trucks, Clawson Fire Department’s bonfire, and other family-friendly activities, cityofclawson.com.
• Pumpkinfest – Sept. 30-Oct. 1, (10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 30 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 1), downtown South Lyon, Pumpkinfest Parade begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 30, Pumpkinfest Run, games and activities, pie-baking contest, www.southlyonpumpkinfest.com.
• Scarecrow Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 1, downtown Oxford, 5K walk/run, children’s activities, live entertainment trick-or-treating, downtownoxford.info.
• Annual Taste of Clarkston: Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 1, on Main Street, downtown Clarkston, restaurants and vendors, live music, entertainment, www.villageofclarkston.org, food ticket prices vary.
Health activities
• Oakland County opioid listening session to learn what resources communities need to prevent opioid misuse and support people in treatment and recovery, is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 26, at Oakland University – Oakland Center, 312 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, registration is encouraged at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOAKL/bulletins/3709e88, walk-ins are welcome, ages 18+.
• The Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force will host a community discussion, 9 a.m-noon Sept. 28 at Oakland Community Health Network, 5505 Corporate Drive in Troy. Register at oakgov.com/suicideprevention. Breakfast included.
Library activities
• Annual Read in the Park celebration is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 30, at Beverly Park, 18801 Beverly Road in Beverly Hills. Rhonda Gowler Greene, author to speak at 11 a.m., and author Frank Anthony Polito to speak at 1 p.m. The event includes book signings, and The Book Beat of Oak Park will be on site selling books. Attendees are invited to walk the Story Book Trail. Registration is requested. 248-554-4650 or visit www.baldwinlib.org/calendar. In the event of rain, the author events will be held at Baldwin Public Library, 300 W. Merrill St., Birmingham, www.baldwinlib.org.
• Fall Used Book Sale is Oct. 5-7, at the Wixom Public Library, 49015 Pontiac Trail, sponsored by the Friends of the Wixom Library. Advance sale for Friends members-only is 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 4, memberships available at the door, wixomlibrary.org/friends.
Museums
• Thursday Tea “Art and Architecture of the Michigan State Capitol” is 2-3 p.m. Sept. 28, inside Old Troy Church at the Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy www.troyhistoricvillage.org/programs/teas-at-two, $10/person discount to members.
Parks
• Oakland County Parks and the City of Oak Park are rejuvenating and maintaining a 17-acre portion of David H. Shepherd Park, in Oak Park, and invite city residents for their input, and to attend two free events: “Pop In and Play” is 5-7 p.m. Sept. 26, at Shelter 1 in Shepherd Park, with jumbo games, inflatables (socks required) and other activities. An open house is noon-2 p.m. Sept. 27 at Oak Park Farmers Market. Those unable to attend can complete an online survey at bit.ly/Shepherd_Survey.
• Awesome Autumn is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Waterford Oaks County Park Activity Center, 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford Twp., for individuals ages 18 and older with developmental disabilities. The event will feature accessible wagon rides, dinner, music and dancing, $10/participant and $5/caregiver and preregistration is required by Sept. 25. Bus transportation from Southfield Parks and Recreation, 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield, is available for $5/person. Pick up will be by 5 p.m. and drop off at 8:30 p.m. Registration forms at OaklandCountyParks.com or call 248-858-0916 to register. For information, call or text 248-221-8040 or email [email protected].
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply.
Support resources
• Cancer Support Group fall session runs 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 26-Nov. 7, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 620 Romeo Road, Rochester, Zoom and in person meetings held in the lower level classroom # 132. For more information, call Celeste Hanes at 248-736-3253.
• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions.
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center. Pressing 1 after dialing 988 will connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.
Volunteer opportunities
• Oakland County Parks is seeking volunteers for Wheels & Squeals at Hawthorne Park in Pontiac, 4:30-8 p.m. Sept. 29. Contact Volunteer Services at [email protected] for questions or register at www.volunteermatch.org/search/org885390.jsp.
Submit community events online at bit.ly/1iUM73e.
