Downtown Monroe hosting Open Air Market, Music Festival, Car Show

MONROE — Downtown Monroe’s annual Open Air Market, Music Festival and Car Show is returning from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. June 8.

Not all events will run all day. Admission is free.

“This year will be even bigger than ever,” said Paula Standifer, event coordinator for the Downtown Monroe Business Network, an event sponsor.

East First and East Front streets, between Monroe and Macomb streets, and Washington Street, between Second and Front streets, will be closed from 7 a.m. to at least 10 p.m. Saturday.

No detours will be posted.

Free parking will be available at the Riverfront parking lot, St. Mary's Park parking lot and on surrounding streets.

Saturday's offerings will include 120 vendors, a classic car show, music and character meet-and-greets. Vendors will be open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on East Front Street, West Front Street and Monroe Street.

Some of the goods for sale include vintage items, antiques, home decor, handmade wooden items, direct sale items, gypsy couture, bohemian goods, candles and crafts.

Participating in sidewalk and indoor sales will be several downtown businesses: Cravings Sports Cards and Collectibles, Williams Insurance Agency, Wiens & Roth Real Estate, Salon 23, Book Nook, Martin’s Shoe House, Floral City Images, BYP Studios, Barn Owl Studio, Alexander Studio, Anthony Fischer (Farmers Insurance agent), Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Nocturnal Monroe, Your Voice Speech Therapy, Mindful Movement Studio and Frenchie’s Fine Jewelry, Coins and Stamps.

Sawyer Homestead, 320 E. Front St., will hold an Attic Sale from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Offered will be collectibles and household items. Shoppers also can tour the Victorian home.

The Book Nook, 42 S. Monroe St, will hold an outdoor book sale. Books will be sold at $1 each, five for $3, 10 for $5 or 100 for $25. Local history books also will be sold. Only cash will be accepted.

“We have approximately 2,500 books dedicated for the sidewalk sale,” said Janet Berns, owner of the now-closed Book Nook.

Five acts will perform in Loranger Square: Celestial Blues (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), Rusty Nail (2-4 p.m.), Howlin' Mercy (4-6 p.m.) and Firelake, a Bob Seger tribute, (6-10 p.m.).

Beer and food trucks will be open until 10 p.m. Trucks include Whiskey Jack's BBQ, Matthewson's Concessions, Nemeth's Diner and Shaved Ice, CIA Cheesesteak, Nostalgic Concessions and Good Humor Ice Cream.

Members of the Floral City Harmonizers will walk around the event singing.

Artists from the Monroe Art League will also have booths at the event.

The car show will feature members of the Monroe, Michigan Goodtime Cruisers. This year's show is in a new location: East First Street.

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A Free Kids Zone, sponsored by Triumph Academy, will offer games, bounce houses, face painting, balloon twisters, and characters from Addie's Closet. Characters will include Bluey, Elsa, Belle and Spiderman.

A cornhole tournament will be presented on Washington Street by Why So Serious Cornhole?

To learn more, visit facebook.com/DowntownMonroeMichiganBusinessNetwork.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 120 vendors, classic cars, musical acts Saturday in Monroe