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For the second year, the Chinatown Block Party will celebrate history and drum up excitement for the future in the area of Cass and Peterboro in Midtown Detroit.
The all-day event is family friendly and is expected to attraction thousands with vendors, a variety of cuisine, film and book events and traditional dances.
“The story of Detroit’s Chinatown is an important part of the city’s history, and its future deserves our collective investment, creativity and community support,” said Dug Song, founder of Song United, in a statement. “We are honored to continue to support the effort to celebrate the many cultures, stories and contributions that make up Detroit’s Asian American community.”
Along with celebrating Detroit’s Asian American community, the party will commemorate the history of Detroit’s Chinatown and memorialize the demolition of the Chinese Merchants Association Building, the longtime home of the Association of Chinese Americans and the founding location of American Citizens for Justice.
A traditional Chinese lion dance will take place at 1 p.m., a dragon dance processional will be at 3 p.m., and there will be other entertainment throughout the day.
Curtis Chin, whose family ran Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine for many years at Cass and Peterboro, will give a keynote address at 2 p.m. He will also sign copies of his memoir “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.” Chin’s short documentary “Warren King: King of Cardboard” and “Bad Axe” by Michigan filmmaker David Siev will both show at the nearby Masonic Temple on Saturday.
In addition to the food vendors, nearby restaurants will also be in the mix. These include the Chinese restaurant and cocktail lounge the Peterboro and the Detroit Shipping Company. Home to food stalls that represent cuisine from around the globe, the community hub and bar is celebrating its eighth anniversary Saturday, too.
Detroit Chinatown Block Party
Noon-8 p.m. Sat.
Cass and Peterboro, Detroit
Free admission, but RSVP is encouraged at eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-chinatown-block-party-tickets-1986461596108
mbaetens@detroitnews.com