Savvy Collectors, Decorators and Dealers Hit Two Royal Oak, Mich. Summer Events

Metro Detroit's hippest and most walkable urban downtown will host the Clay & Glass Festival and Taste of Royal Oak June 16 and 17 and the 32nd annual Royal Oak Antique and Garage Sale -- with 300 dealers in a municipal parking deck -- July 14 and 15, 2007.

At the June 16-17 art and food event, visitors walking along Washington Avenue can shop with 150 juried artists or sample food specialties from land and sea. They'll see glass blown and pots thrown and children will dabble in related crafts. At night, guests will groove to blues, rock and jazz live performances on the Fifth Street stage.

A five-level parking deck at the corner of South Lafayette and Fifth Street protects crowds from the sun in the flea-market atmosphere of the Antique and Garage Sale July 14 and 15. Merchandise includes fine antiques, mid-century modern, crafts, vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories, collectibles and "shabby" and country-flavored furnishings.

Visitors to either event can easily make a day of it, walking just a few blocks from the festival to experience Royal Oak's galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, sidewalk cafes and antique, gift and apparel stores, or the nearby Detroit Zoo. Downtown Royal Oak was named metro Detroit's "Best non-mall shopping area" in 2006 by Metro Times, the area's largest weekly entertainment publication.

Both events are sponsored by the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce.

Hours for the events are as follows:

Artists' tents at the Clay & Glass Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 16 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. Food and music at the Taste of Royal Oak will be available on Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Antique and Garage Sale will operate on Saturday, July 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Clay & Glass Festival and Taste of Royal Oak, and the Royal Oak Antique & Garage Sale, call 248-547-4000 or visit www.royaloakchamber.com.

Video of downtown Royal Oak

Map of the art fair location

Map of the garage sale location

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