Plans Under Way for 40th Annual Dexter Daze Celebration

Planning for the 40th annual Dexter Daze summer festival is under way, and event publicist Laurie Kokmeyer hopes this year's event will be the largest one yet.

"We're in the planning stages (for the festival), and we've begun our big push for artists, businesses and volunteers to participate," Kokmeyer said.

What started out as a sidewalk sale 40 years ago has evolved into a full-blown festival that attracts thousands of people to downtown Dexter every year. Parades, live entertainment, artists' booths and raffles are just some of the events planned for the 40th anniversary.

"Dexter Daze is such a popular family-friendly activity, especially in the summer when parents are looking for fun things to do," Kokmeyer said.

One of the more popular events is the artist showcase, featuring booths of local Michigan artists selling their wares in . Applications for a booth are currently being accepted online. Artists can rent a booth for $150 during the two-day event. Artists must download the application and submit it with three pictures of their work and a check to Dexter Daze Committee, P.O. Box 31, Dexter, MI 48130. Photos can be emailed to Booths@DexterDaze.org. The application deadline is June 15.

Event organizers are also looking for local businesses that want to showcase their services in downtown Dexter throughout the festival weekend.

Applications for business booths can be downloaded online. The booth rental fee is also $150, and a photo of the business must be emailed to Booths@DexterDaze.org for publicity purposes.

"We always get 100 booths, but for the 40th anniversary, I hope we can find space to accommodate a few more," Kokmeyer said. "Space fills up quickly, so we are encouraging vendors to sign up early."

The Dexter Daze committee meets the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the . Volunteers are needed to help coordinate this year's festivities. The next meeting takes place Monday.

"It takes a lot of volunteers to prepare and assist with the fair, so any support would be greatly appreciated," Kokmeyer said.

For more information, visit the Dexter Daze website. To volunteer or inquire about volunteer opportunities, click on the "volunteer" menu on the website's main page.