The Grosse Pointe business community is coming together next month to host a three-day celebration of the all the things that make Grosse Pointe a great place to live.
“Live. Play. Stay. A Weekend in Grosse Pointe” will take place Sept. 23-25 and feature communitywide activities centered on sports, schools, shopping, eating, housing and more.
“The fall is a special time in Grosse Pointe,” said Jennifer Boettcher, president and executive director of the . “In the fall people are back in school and family and friends are back together and we want to promote our community and what a beautiful time it is.”
Boettcher said the weekend-long celebration grew out of the chamber’s desire to do something special with its annual tailgate for the South-North football game in honor of the 90th anniversary of the .
The schedule for the weekend is as follows:
Friday, Sept. 23
The Chamber of Commerce will host a tailgate party for the vs. varsity football game from 5-7 p.m. at Grosse Pointe South. Local restaurants will serve their signature dishes, with proceeds from the sales going to benefit the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education. They include:
Both North and South will provide entertainment, face painting and surprises. Food tickets will cost $1 each and food prices will vary from $2 to $5.
Following the game, the will host its Fifth Quarter High School Youth Event featuring live bands, pizza and pop. The cost is $5, and all students must have a school ID to enter. More information is available at (313) 884-3075 or on their website.
Saturday, Sept. 24
Various activities will be held throughout the community, including:
- hosts Sidewalk Chalk Family Day
- offers a “Staff Life Behind the Scenes Tour” beginning at 11:15 a.m. The tour will take guests through the spaces where staff lived and worked and explain how the large, loyal staff helped make the estate a home. The cost is $15 per person. Reservations are required at (313) 884-4222.
- A Bird Walk will be held at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Both novice and experienced birdwatchers can join a guided exploration on the grounds with Rosann Kovalcik of . The cost is $15.00 per person and reservations are required at (313) 884-4222. Bring binoculars!
- Grosse Pointe South Athletic Booster Club hosts a “Run the Pointe” event. Choose from a 5K race or 10K race, both of which begin at 9 a.m. A two-mile Fun Walk begins at 9:20 a.m. The races start and finish on the track at Grosse Pointe Blvd and Fisher Rd. The cost is $20.00. Registration information is on the club's website.
- Henry Ford kicks off its annual Cottage Auxiliary Kitchen Tour with a Strolling Supper Preview Party that runs from 4 to 8 p.m. The cost is $35 for patrons and $40 for benefactors. Ticket information is available at (313) 882-5109.
- The Flea Market is from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 32 Lake Shore Rd in the Farms. Admission is free.
- will host a Fall Family Festival at 10 a.m. showcasing food, games, inflatables and kid activities.
- will hold its last day of shopping from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Park. Fruit, vegetables, baked goods, sauces, crafts and more products will abound.
- The Judson Center will host a night for teens with special needs. More information is available on their website or by calling (313) 885-8660.
Sunday, Sept. 25
The Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. to showcase homes of varying values for sale throughout the community. Visitors and prospective homebuyers can explore Grosse Pointe’s tree-lined streets, architecturally diverse housing, waterfront parks, restaurants, shopping and tour the schools.
Additionally, the board will provide two free trolley tours running from Windmill Pointe Drive in the Park to the Yacht Club in the Shores to introduce visitors to the area. The rides will begin and end on Fisher near Grosse Pointe South High School. Each trolley seats roughly three dozen people, said Pat Chasteen of the board, which is organizing the rides with the . Details on how to reserve a seat are still being worked out, she said.
This tour, typically only given to Alumni Groups, will be a great way for the community to learn more about Grosse Pointe South, one of the jewels in our community. Recent preservation projects including the auditorium restoration, the new student commons, Cleminson Hall restoration, and the new hallway lighting will be highlighted. The tour will also include the Boll Center, South's new athletic facilities and much, much more.