Saturday, July 21, 2012
Clowns, bands, Shriners and more travel down Grand River during the two-hour event. Did you take pictures?
Crowds lined up early along Grand River for today's Downtown Farmington Founders Festival parade, which kicked off at Power Rd. around 9:45 a.m. In addition to local government officials, bands, nonprofits and businesses, the Shriners put on quite a show, bringing in go-carts, motorcycles and a stagecoach robbery. Did you take photos at the parade? Share them here, by clicking on "Upload Photos and Videos".
Eastern Michigan student Elizabeth Heffron takes the 2012 title with a song from the Broadway musical 'My Fair Lady'.
Eastern Michigan University junior Elizabeth Heffron walked away with the 2012 Farmington Idol title Friday evening, topping a pool of 10 contestants. "I am ecstatic right now," the 20-year-old Farmington Hills resident said after the event, which was held on Meijer Family Stage in the Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion. The event was part of this weekend's Downtown Farmington Founders Festival, which closes today. While most contestants chose rock or pop tunes, Heffron belted out her selection, "I Could Have Danced All Night", from the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. While her major at Eastern is music therapy, she chose musical theater as her minor. "I would like to work in a hospital, in a children's ward," she said, adding theater…
42.46361
-83.37343
Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion & Riley Park
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-idol-winner-could-have-danced-all-night
1800270
/locations/7459272
Friday, July 20, 2012
Check out what people are saying about our community festival, and add your photos to our gallery.
Downtown Farmington is bustling with activity and the conversation on social media is heating up as Founders Festival opened today under sunny skies. The community-wide festival that stretches along Grand River from Grove Street to Farmington Road, is open until 10 p.m. It opens again tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. We've got information about parking, shuttle service, entertainment and more in "Need to Know: Downtown Farmington Founders Festival Starts Today". Share your favorite Founders Festival memories by adding your photos and videos to this gallery, which we'll be updating throughout the weekend. Not sure how to upload? Check out our step-by-step guide.
42.4649
-83.37646
Grand River Ave & Farmington Rd, Farmington, MI
/articles/sunshine-mild-temperatures-greet-downtown-farmington-founders-festival
/locations/7457736
42.46361
-83.37343
Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion & Riley Park
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/sunshine-mild-temperatures-greet-downtown-farmington-founders-festival
1800270
/locations/7457737
In addition to Downtown Farmington Founders Festival activities, you can enjoy a family campfire, watch a rubber duck race and help a local cat rescue.
The Downtown Farmington Founders Festival swings into full gear today, and you can read all about the weekend's activities in our online guide. We've put together a list of other activities going on over the next few days. Browse through our photo gallery above, then click on the links below for more details: Farmington/Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families Rubber Duck Race Do you know about an event that's not listed? Add it to our calendar! Simple instructions are here: VIDEO: How to Create an Event on Patch.
Judges select 10 finalists who move on to the final round today, 6 p.m., on the Meijer Family Stage.
In the end, it came down to a sing-off. At the request of the judges, four Farmington Idol contestants took an extra turn at the close of Thursday's preliminary round of competition, to determine the last of 10 finalists who will compete at 6 p.m. today during the Downtown Farmington Founders Festival. Thirteen hopefuls performed 90-second a capella solos at Drakeshire Foods & Lounge on Grand River. They covered artists ranging from Billy Joel and the Beatles to Adele and Lady Antebellum. Finalists who will compete on the Meijer Family Stage in Riley Park include: Also competing were Mark Drum and Corey Goines of Farmington and Jim Stallings of Plymouth. Judges were professional vocalist Amy Malaney, teacher and Farmington Hills Youth …
Your festival memories could win you a pass to a health and wellness sauna studio in Novi.
Are you headed to the Downtown Farmington Founders Festival this weekend? Keep your camera at the ready for a chance to win a prize in our Patch of Michigan contest. This week's prize is a one month pass for unlimited visits to the new SuiteSweat infared sauna studio in Novi, valued at $79. The infared saunas are used for health and wellness, including weight loss, detoxification, heart health and pain relief. Last week, about 120 photos were submitted to the contest. All that's required is that the picture says "Michigan" and what Michigan means to you. Maybe it's bountiful produce from on our Farmers and Artisans Market growers. Or your family have fun at a great Michigan event. Read "Photo Contest: Show Us Your Patch of Michigan and …
Thursday, July 19, 2012
From contra dances to porch parties, Elise Newcomer has served as a cheerful ambassador for the community.
As she ended her reign as Miss Farmington 2011 last night, Elise Newcomer thanked her "personal paparazzi" – Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch, the Farmington Observer and Farmington Press – for chronicling her year-long journey. I'd like to return the favor. Over the past year, Elise has taken on an incredible number of activities, working with others to raise about $2,500 for Sweet Dreamzzz, the Michigan Veterans Foundation and Joy Southfield Development Corporation. Those funds will help kids in need get a better night's sleep, they'll help homeless veterans and residents in a western Detroit neighborhood. With her court, Elise attended Porch Parties at the Governor Warner Mansion and Longacre House, rang the bell at the Farmington …
The Downtown Farmington Founders Festival kicks off tonight with pre-glow events, but you can also watch the Farmington Idol preliminary competition.
At 11:30 a.m. today, barricades will close Farmington Road from Grand River almost to State St., signalling the beginning of the Downtown Farmington Founders Festival. (The Downtown Farmington Center lot closed at midnight.) You can find information in our 2012 Downtown Farmington Founders Festival guide. Here's what else you should know today: There's a 30 percent chance of showers today, but the rain should move out before tonight's Founders Festival Alley Regalley and Walker's Tavern events. The National Weather Service predicts a high around 85, and a low around 63, under cloudy skies. Today at 2 p.m., the Farmington Community Library Main Library will show a 90-minute, family-friendly film that depicts how some 1,400 Michigan World…
42.498884
-83.371202
The Farmington Community Library Main Library
32737 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
Honor Flight movie
/articles/5-things-you-should-know-today-july-19-2012
706983
/locations/7443183
42.46894
-83.39297
Drakeshire Foods & Lounge
35000 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
Farmington Idol preliminary
/articles/5-things-you-should-know-today-july-19-2012
707072
/locations/7443184
42.47805
-83.377147
Heritage Park
25099 Farmington Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
Family campfire
/articles/5-things-you-should-know-today-july-19-2012
1582091
/locations/7443185
42.476462
-83.377057
City of Farmington Hills Nature Discovery Center
24915b Farmington Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
Family campfire
/articles/5-things-you-should-know-today-july-19-2012
1528148
/locations/7443186
Callaghan Smerek is writing songs for Colbie Caillat's Christmas album. Smerek performs Saturday during Founders Festival.
Farmington Hills resident Callaghan Smerek may only be 17, but she's already got quite a songwriting resume. This summer, Smerek is working with pop star Colbie Caillat on songs for Caillat's holiday album. She connected with the singer through her father, record producer Ken Caillat, after realizing they were friends on Facebook, Smerek told WDIV-TV. The celebrity is heady stuff for the Academy of Sacred Heart senior, who keeps up a 4.0 grade point average while building her career. But the music – that comes naturally. "I've been writing songs for literally my entire life," Smerek said. "It's just like breathing to me." She got her first big break with a song called "Pookie Bear", written for a Wendy's restaurant commercial. The song …
The Harrison High student, who celebrated her 'Sweet Sixteen' birthday Wednesday, hopes to talk with children during her reign about 'just being who you are'.
Elena Pavlicas said hearing her name called during last night's Miss Farmington pageant was "just so exhilarating". She was crowned at the close of the 2012 pageant, held at the Farmington Civic Theater, and received the Dick Tupper Goodfellow Spirit Award. Wednesday was also Pavlicas' 16th birthday. Still wiping away tears as she hugged family and friends during a post-event party at Page's Food & Spirits, the 15-year-old Harrison High student said she was so overwhelmed, she started to cry. "It was so wonderful," Pavlicas said. While she'll be busy with community activities over the coming year – starting with tonight's Farmington Idol preliminary competition – Pavlicas said she will support the backpack program at Lanigan Elementary …
42.46462
-83.375807
Farmington Civic Theater
33332 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
/articles/miss-farmington-2012-elena-pavlicas-overwhelmed-by-title-win
1722562
/locations/7446924
Joni Hubred-Golden
2:03 pm on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thanks, Kirk, we had a great time. And Bob, thanks for sharing your photos! more ›