Dearborn — The nation’s largest Arab festival, with 300,000 people expected to attend, is set to begin Friday at 5 p.m.

A half-mile stretch along Warren Avenue between Schaefer Road and Wyoming Avenue will turn into the 13th Annual Arab International Festival for the weekend, with a last musical performance scheduled at the main stage Sunday, June 22 at 7:15 p.m.

The free festival will span 14 blocks, featuring food, music, crafts, games and rides.

Twenty-five food booths, arts and crafts tables, a children’s activities tent, a carnival with a Ferris Wheel, and a stage for continuous musical performances and a Middle Eastern fashion show will all be part of the festival

“This festival is becoming a historical event for not only Dearborn, but also Michigan and the United States as well,” said James Allen, chairman of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event each year. 

“We want everyone to come out and enjoy the cultural diversity that makes America so beautiful and unique.  We are extremely proud that we have been able to give back to the community through events like the festival, and look forward to the positive impact it will continue to have.”

The Chamber estimates that the festival generates about 5 million dollars of economic activity for the surrounding area.

Parking and a free shuttle service will be available in the parking lot of the old Montgomery Ward building on Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road.

The complimentary shuttle will run from the parking lot to the festival site every half hour, taking festival-goers to the corner of Miller and Warren Roads every 30 minutes from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., beginning at noon.

2008 Arab International Festival – Main Stage Schedule
Friday, June 20

5: 30 p.m. Maples School drum corps

6:30 p.m. Chaldean musical performance

7:00 p.m. Local singer Emad Batayeh

7:30 p.m. Ribbon cutting ceremony

8:15 p.m. Local singer Mahmoud Baydoun

9:00 p.m. DJ Refugee

9:15 p.m. Canadian pop singer Karl Wolf

Saturday, June 21

3:00 p.m. Ismael “Bandolero” Duran, Chilean folk singer

4:15 p.m. Muruga & the Global Village Ceremonial Band, world funk fusion group

5:15 p.m. Zaynini Fashion Show

6:30 p.m. Local singer Tony Madi

7:00 p.m. Debke Troupe Performance

7:30 p.m. Local singer Amalia Kaadou

8:00 p.m. Local singer Karim Al-Bayat

8:45 p.m. Local singer Bassam Saleh

9:15 p.m. Local singer Zak Baabaki

Sunday, June 22

3:00 p.m. Zebula Avenue, Detroit seven-piece world music band

4:00 p.m. Breakdancing performance and workshop

4:30 p.m. Rapper Napoleon- formerly of the Outlawz (tentative)

6:00 p.m. Local musician Jad Soudah

6:30 p.m. Local singer Karim Jaber

7:15 p.m. Rana & Naim, oud and vocal duo