CityFest in Detroit opens with variety of food and music

July 4, 2007
Jerome Dearing of Burt's on Broadway cooks hamburgers on an outdoor grille at CityFest on Wednesday. The festival in Detroit's New Center section runs through Sunday night.
J.D. Leichtman of Rochester Hills enjoys a few messy ribs with Hayley Davis of East Lansing at CityFest.
Anzu Stoll, 2, of Ferndale, rides along on the shoulders of her dad, John, at the food and music festival.
Marquise Morgan, 18, of Flint, second from left, performs with her troupe, the Muungana Drum and Dance, at CityFest.
CityFest in Detroit opens with variety of food and music Delores Flynn DETROIT -- Comerica CityFest 2007 kicked off today around 11 a.m. with a slim crowd, but officials expected things to pick as the day progresses. The 19th annual summer festival in the New Center area of the city runs through Sunday. It features more 40 restaurant vendors, a kids area and four musical stages where some 70 local and national acts will perform, including Weird Al Yankovic and rapper Lupe Fiasco. "This is a great family oriented event. It's nice to see people from all over coming together. It's great promotion for Detroit," Alicia Hamilton, 22, of Detroit. Karen O'Hare bought her Taste tickets early this afternoon and embarked on her first-ever stroll through CityFest. "I'm really looking forward to tasting the food. Where else can you sample so many restaurants all in one place?" asked the 43-year-old Redford Township resident. About 500,000 people attended last year's event, according to Julie Kouloumberis, marketing director for CityFest. She said 600,000 people are expected this year, weather permitting. Festival organizers said the crowd is expected to peak today around 4 p.m. The festival will run daily from 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Sunday. CityFest is held outdoors on West Grand Boulevard between Woodward Avenue and the Lodge Freeway (M-10). New Center landmarks include the Fisher Building and Cadillac Place, which is the former General Motors Building. You can reach Delores Flynn at (248) 647-7225 or dflynn@detnews.com.