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Community Corner

Dearborn Homecoming 2011: What You Need to Know

Where to park, what to bring, how to get there.

Dearborn Homecoming should be one of the most enjoyable weekends of the year. What's not enjoyable? Figuring out where to park, how to avoid traffic jams, what to bring and where to go.

But we're here to help. Here's everything you need to know.

How to Get There

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Dearborn Homecoming is located at , which is several blocks north of Michigan Avenue and just west of Brady Street. Michigan Avenue is the obvious choice to make your way to Homecoming, but also promises to be the most congested.

If you're coming from the west, cutting around the back via Cherry Hill may be helpful. From the east, try Rotunda Drive as an alternate route, cutting through to downtown via Oakwood Boulevard or Outer Drive.

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There will be no major construction in downtown west Dearborn throughout Homecoming weekend.

Where to Park

Parking options are bountiful during Homecoming, ranging from privately run lots to flat-rate public parking, as well as street metered parking.

A limited number of spots will be open at Ford Field for a $10 flat fee–an increase from previous years' fees. That parking lot is accessible from Brady.

Normal will remain for all west Dearborn lots and meters on Friday and Saturday. Those rates are 25 cents per every 15 minutes up to an hour and 75 cents per hour for every portion of an hour thereafter. The maximum daily rate is $9.

Flat rates of $5 will be offered all weekend in both parking decks on West Village Drive east of Military. Additionally, a flat rate of $5 will apply from noon until 10 p.m. Sunday for all surface lots and parking decks. 

Parking will be free before noon in all lots and decks on Sunday.

Two complementary shuttle options will run all weekend.

The shuttle will pick visitors up at the school parking lot on the west side of Outer Drive, north of Michigan Avenue. It runs 6-11 p.m. Friday and 12-11:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Parking is free.

A West Village Drive shuttle will run 5-8:30 p.m. Friday and 1-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from Monroe to Military. City vans will be making stops in front of the parking decks and public lots.

Also, be on the lookout for privately run parking lots during the weekend.

One of those options is , which will offer parking in their lot on Military for a flat $10 fee all three days of the festival. Money collected will go toward helping fund a trip for the church's youth group. The lot will be open 3-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

What to Bring

Your walking shoes, for one. Even with shuttles, comfortable shoes are recommended as your make your way around Ford Field's grassy grounds.

Blankets, if you plan on staying for the fireworks on Saturday or Sunday night. Blankets can only be put on the hill after 8 a.m. either Saturday or Sunday, and must be removed by midnight both nights. Blankets can be no bigger than 8-by-8 feet. Stakes are not permitted to secure blankets or tarps.

Blankets are not permitted at the Main Stage, but seats in front of the stage can be reserved after 5 p.m. each night. Seats must be saved by a person. One person may save up to four seats.

Don't bring your cigarettes or alcohol. All of Ford Field Park is designated as a no-smoking zone during Homecoming, while outside alcohol is prohibited. Also, plan to leave at home any bikes, skateboards, in-line skates, sports equipment or animals.

For a full list of rules and regulations, visit the City of Dearborn website.

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