Dearborn Celebrates Community with Games, BBQ

The smell of barbecue will be wafting through the air this weekend as hundreds of residents attend the Dearborn Community Barbecue at Ford Field Park on Sunday.

The free family-friendly event is being organized by local student groups to help kick-off the summer season. It will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at 22051 Cherry Hill St. in Dearborn.

"Many people were saddened with the decision to cancel the Arab International Festival this year," event co-organizer Hussein Hachem, a representative of the Lebanese American Heritage Club said.

While he acknowledges that the barbecue cannot make up for the loss of the festival, he said event organizers hope to draw people of all ethnic backgrounds together for the event.

The barbecue will feature food from Saad's Halal Meats and Al-Ghadeer Meat Market, who are providing meat. Chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, humous, side dishes, and refreshments will be provided from area businesses, as well.

In addition to food, there will be free games — including a sand volleyball tournament, football and soccer games — a dunk tank and moon walk. A DJ will also provide music for the five-hour event.

Hachem said the event has been months in the making, spearheaded by groups from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Wayne State University.

"The youth in our community want to show the public that Dearborn can be a place everyone can enjoy, regardless of race, gender, or the color of your skin," he said.

Hachem said the barbecue is open to anyone who wants to come, not just Dearborn residents.

"Our goal is to bring everyone together for a fun day of free food, games and camaraderie " he said.

Hachem and other students have organized similar events in the past at Ford Field and Levagood Park, but he said the events were limited to students. The organizers are hoping to develop interest in the barbecue to expand the event in the future and make it an annual event.

For more information, or to help sponsor the barbecue, call Hachem at 313-258-6799.