A lot of things are happening in our town and a lot more is on the agenda for this year. Restaurant week kicked off the year in January. Local eateries offered special incentives to attract new customers. The Third Annual Celebration of Fenton’s Cuisine is always a popular event with locals and out of towner’s alike.
February featured the Fenton Community Orchestra (FCO) presenting a Night at the Movies. The performance of Academy Award nominated music delighted the crowd in attendance. Now in their eighth year, the FCO continues to grow through community support. In addition, generous grants from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts provide support for the FCO. Visit the Fenton Community Orchestra website for the schedule of upcoming events.
Once again this year the Fenton Community Expo packed in the crowds. During their traditional dates on the first weekend in March, local businesses feature their wares to Expo visitors. With giveaways to entice you to visit their booth, kids and parents alike enjoy walking the aisles collecting goodies.
Speaking of business. Area residents anxiously await the arrival of Starbucks to the Owen Road restaurant complex the CMP Real Estate Group is developing. Dubbed Owen Shops the multiplex is set to include five eateries. In addition to Starbucks, Pizza Hut is a confirmed tenant. Rumored additions have included Qdoba and Jersey Mike’s Subs.
Downtown Fenton is also undergoing a building project at the corner of Silver Lake Road and LeRoy Street. The Horizon Building, a three-story business and retail center, is expected to be completed this summer. The upper two floors of the building already have committed tenants. The bottom floor is expected to house retail establishments.
More News from downtown Fenton. The historic Fenton Hotel Tavern and Grille is planning to expand. No, the iconic building is not set for renovation. The grille will expand with outside seating during the summer months. A new covered porch has been added to the south side of the building.
Owner Nick Sorise says the porch will provide seating for an additional 40 guests. “We had been thinking about the idea for a couple of years and finally decided to move ahead. With the downtown Streetscape redevelopment project complete we felt it was the ideal time. In the Summer people like to sit outside and eat. We are happy to provide the opportunity for our guests to do so.”
Two more restaurants on the horizon expect to open soon. Brighton’s Ciao Amici’s is coming to Fenton as Ciao Italian Bistro at 110 S. Leroy Street. Located adjacent to Bent Yoga, the bistro is nearing completion and the smell of Italian specialties will soon fill the air along the sidewalks of downtown Fenton.
The long-awaited Goki Goki Korean BBQ Restaurant and Specialty Market will open in April at the site formerly occupied by Luigi’s Restaurant, 1243 N. LeRoy Street. Owner John Kim says the necessary permits have all been obtained. John allowed us a sneak peek inside the restaurant/deli/hibachi grill and a taste of the cuisine. Delicious, Goki Goki is sure to be a popular addition to the local restaurant scene.
The end of March saw the Peabody Ice Climbing Center host the 2018 North American Ice climbing Championships. Competitors from across the U.S. and Canada came to town to compete. Climbing sports are a popular activity with a growing following among outdoor loving adventure enthusiasts. Peabody’s is the place to get your climbing adventures into gear.
Looking Ahead
Memorial Day activities around the last weekend in May include the ever popular Fenton Memorial Day Parade. The traditional 10:00 am start time gets the Holiday off to a rousing start.
The Fenton Freedom Festival held annually on the 4th of July. This patriotic all-day event is one of the key staples of the Fenton community. Watch the famous Freedom Festival parade, run the Firecracker 5K race, visit local arts and craft vendors, enjoy music, a chicken dinner and children’s games. End the day taking in the spectacular sights of the fireworks displayed from Silver Lake Park!
All summer the Arts Are The Heart entertains Fenton residents downtown at Rackham Park.These events are FREE and open to the public, celebrating the arts and showcasing the revitalization of downtown Fenton. Events in this series will incorporate family-friendly art creation stations, live music, art camps, art exhibits and local artisan marketplace.
The 2018 Schedule for Friday evenings from 4-7pm at 404 W. Ellen Street, Fenton
- May 18th, 4-7 pm
- June 15th, 4-7 pm
- July 20th, 4-7 pm
And on Saturday - August 18th, 10 am – 2 pm
So Much More
Look to the Lasco Press for reporting on all the happenings in the Tri-County area this spring and summer. If you have an event you would like to publicise or a story to share Contact us via email at news@thelascopress.com. We will see you around town during an exciting 2018.
