City Gears Up for 12 Hours of Sales, Entertainment in Day on the Town

Downtown Birmingham is the place to be Saturday when the city welcomes visitors to a — a day of entertainment, shopping, sales and and a celebration of the mantra “Shop Local.”

From 9 a.m.-9 p.m., the crossroads of Maple Road and Old Woodward Avenue will be closed for the city’s yearly shopping event, a 12-hour “power sale” during which Birmingham boutiques known for high-end luxury merchandise will slash their prices.

“The Day on the Town event has become such a popular attraction for clients over the years because it is the day Birmingham goes on sale,” said Rachael Woods, owner of and a volunteer on the ’s Special Events Committee. “The deals are amazing, and everyone — including the merchants — are prepared, rain or shine.”

The event, held the same day as ’s , also includes live entertainment on four stages, the Children’s Bike Parade and a Kidz Zone, complete with entertainers, face painting and an arts and crafts station.

Gearing up for the next month, several classic cars are also scheduled to be on the scene throughout the day.

“Day on the Town is a huge day for retailers in Birmingham,” said John Heiney, PSD executive director. “It’s important for shoppers to support their downtown businesses.”

For many of those businesses, Day on the Town is a chance to introduce new shoppers to their products as well as to make room for fall merchandise.

, the high-end women’s boutique on Maple, will sell spring and summer clothes for 75 percent off to make room for its fall collections.

“Every store is special in Birmingham and has something to offer that is unique,” said Karen Daskas, co-owner of Tender. “Everbody should make it a point to come out — it’s the day of all days.”

If you go

• Road closures: Old Woodward Avenue will be closed to traffic from Willits to Brown, and Maple Road will be closed from Bates to Peabody.
• Parking: Parking in city garages and at meters will be free.
• Entertainment: Featured bands include: Motor City Brass Band, Mark Randisi, Sara Covetta and Company of Strangers. The day also will include performances by several youth groups, including the Axis Music Academy, Village Youth Theatre and Dance City. WWJ-AM, 950, will be present throughout the day with giveaways and more.
• For the children: The Children’s Bike Parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at with a bike-decorating contest, following a parade throughout the city streets. The Kidz Zon will be set up at Maple and Old Woodward from 10 a.m.-2 p.m..
• For more information: Call the PSD at 248-530-1200.