Celebrate the 50th Birmingham Village Fair

It's widely stated that the Memorial Day weekend is the first real sign that summer is near. But what doesn’t say summer like the Birmingham Village Fair?
Amusing carnival games, delicious funnel cakes and a dozen rides are just some of the features that continue to bring people from around Metro Detroit to downtown Birmingham for 50 years.

“The Village Fair truly has become part of the fabric of this community and we are grateful to the city of Birmingham and local merchants for their support of the fair all these years,” said Joe Bauman, president of  Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, the event’s chief sponsor.

Partnered with North American Midway Entertainment, which operates the four-day festival in Shain Park, the chamber will distribute a portion of proceeds to more than a dozen local nonprofits. The Bank of Birmingham, Lakeshore Express Aviation and WOW! Internet Cable Phone are also sponsors.

If You Go:

Where: Shain Park and the surrounding streets, including Bates, Henrietta and Martin Street between Pierce and Chester.When:

• Thursday: noon-10 p.m.
• Friday: noon-11 p.m.
• Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Sunday: noon- 9 p.m.

Cost: Entrance to the fair is free, but tickets are required for rides. Individual tickets are $2-$5, depending on the ride and are valid on: Thursday, May 30 from noon-10 p.m..; Friday, May 31 from May 31 from 12 to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, June 2 from 12 to 9 p.m.

Get Your Wristband: While there’s still time, get a bargain on ride tickets, courtesy of the Chamber, the  Birmingham Bloomfield Credit Union and Bank of Birmingham. The sponsors are offering fair wristbands for $15 each, but only until May 29th. The wristbands will be $20 if purchased at the fair.

For more Village Fair

Check out Birmingham Patch's coverage of the Village Fair from years past:

• Viewfinder: Village Fair Opens to Warm Weather, Happy Crowds
• Viewfinder: Spinning, Flying and Twirling at the Village Fair
• Viewfinder: Hot Weather Doesn't Deter Crowds at Village Fair

What’s your favorite ride at the Birmingham Village Fair, and how many times have been on it? Tell us in the comments.