Greektown, Cinco de Mayo parades, plus a toy show and sturgeon day: 5 things to do
As we warm up for spring, again ... this weekend offers opportunities to get out and enjoy parades celebrating Mexican and Greek heritage in Detroit, touch a live sturgeon on the river, explore Historic Fort Wayne as the new touring season begins, watch animated shorts at the Senate Theater and browse collectible toys in Novi.
Here's a list of things to do for the weekend of May 5:
Cinco de Mayo and Greek Independence Day parades
These family-friendly and community-oriented parades show off Detroit's rich cultural diversity with traditional dance groups, elaborate floats and various performances and offerings from neighborhood, church and student organizations in Southwest Detroit and downtown.
The Greek Independence Day parade begins at 3 p.m. Sunday from Campus Martius Park in Detroit. It will travel down Monroe Street and through Greektown before concluding at the Greektown Hotel. The parade helps support Hellenic Museum of Michigan through grants and awards, school and collegiate outreach and fundraising, along with preserving and promoting the Hellenic heritage of the Greek community in Detroit, Windsor and Southeast Michigan.
A prayer service before the parade gets things started at noon Sunday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church, 707 E. Lafayette in Detroit. A post-parade ceremony, dance performances and street festival will be at 4 p.m.
The Cinco de Mayo parade will conclude a three-day celebration that begins Friday.
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta takes place at the corner of 21st and Bagley streets, Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The parade takes place Sunday at noon along Vernor Highway from Springwells Street to West Grand Boulevard.
Novi Toy Show
More than 225 tables of toys that will include Hot Wheels, tractors, sport cards, dolls, Si-Fi collectables, cartoon figures, Star Wars items, tin wind-ups, trains, action figures, slot cars, Tonka trucks, movie posters, lunch pails, Legos, and hundreds of other collectibles will be at this show.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River in Novi. Admission is $10 per person. Kids under 12 are free. $5 parking.
Sturgeon Day
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge are hosting this event to celebrate this fish that many experts refer to as a “living dinosaur.” The event will include learning activities, games, arts and crafts and an opportunity to touch a live sturgeon caught in the Detroit River.
Staff from the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office - Detroit River Substation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources will also participate.
The lake sturgeon is considered a threatened species in Michigan. The sturgeon population has increased and now there are estimated to be more than 4,400 of them living in the Detroit River, according to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.
A local food truck will be available for food and refreshments.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at William G. Milliken State Park, 1900 Atwater in Detroit. Register at Sturgeon Day. Free.
Veterans Recognition Day – Historic Fort Wayne
The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition opens a new season of activities with its first event of the year. This free event, open to the public, will feature living historians, military displays, military vehicles and tours of the grounds and the barracks building, which was built 175 years ago in 1848.
Regularly scheduled weekend guided tours from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays will resume for the 2023 season starting May 13 through Oct. 28 and will include the Star Fort, barracks and the Spanish-American War Guard House.
Reservations for tours can be booked at historicfortwaynecoalition.com.
The Veterans Recognition Day event takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Star Fort, 6325 W. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit. On-site, secured parking is also free.
Detroit International Festival of Animation
This 8th annual festival for animation enthusiasts will showcase 22 selections of animated shorts from local and international filmmakers. Animated shorts range from experimental and quirky to more sophisticated mini-features.
Attendees can experience a special preshow performance on the Wurlitzer pipe organ from the Detroit Theater Organ Society.
Doors open at 7 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. preshow and 8 p.m. showtime Saturday at the Senate Theater, 6424 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. Admission is $10.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Greektown, Cinco de Mayo parades, plus a toy show: 5 things to do
