5 Things You Should Know This Weekend - July 1-3, 2011

We're at the start of a long holiday weekend and ready to celebrate. Here are a few things we thought you should know before this party gets started:

1. Hitting the road?

that will have lane closures through the holiday weekend. Even though crews won't be working, it pays to remain cautious around those barricades. You may want to check gas prices before you head out; detroitgasprices.com allows you to search locally and in communities along your route to find the best deals.

2. First Friday Ballroom Dancing and Buffet

Singles and couples over 50 are welcome at this monthly event, held at the in Farmington Hills. With a live band, a buffet dinner and the chance to enjoy a turn on the dance floor, you'll find plenty to enjoy at this event. The fun starts at 3 p.m. Cost is $9 in advance, or $10 at the door. Stop by the Costick Center or call 248-473-1800 to learn more.

3.

If you're staying home for the weekend, downtown Farmington will be jazz central tonight. The Paul Dozier Quartet plays Rhythmz in Riley Park starting at 7 p.m. Bring your chairs, blankets and picnic dinners to the . As of Thursday, there was a 30 percent chance of rain; we'll let you know later this afternoon if the concert will be moving indoors to across the street. 

4. Farmers Market

Come rain or shine (and it is supposed to be steamy), the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market opens at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, at the . There's music, a chef's demo, a play area for the kids, lots of delicious Michigan-grown produce, flowers and other Michigan-made goods to browse through.

5. Warning siren test

Both Farmington and Farmington Hills will be testing their outdoor severe weather warning sirens at 1 p.m. Saturday. The tone lasts for three minutes, and you'll probably be able to hear it inside or outside. If you hear that sound at any other time than the first Saturday of the month tests, seek shelter immediately – it means a tornado or severe storm with high winds has been spotted on radar.