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The event, which will take place in Grant Park, is a juried arts and crafts show featuring more than 80 regional artists and craftspeople who will show off their skills in the park. The event features everything from fine paintings to garden decorations to gourmet pet treats.

“We’ve got jewelers and painters from throughout the state, and quite a few craftspeople,” said Barbara Montag, event chairwoman. “One thing that really makes us different from other shows, like the Shelby Township one, is that we’re still an arts-and-crafts fair instead of just art. People can come and look at and purchase paintings, but we also have a lot of crafts on display and for sale as well.”

The fair also boasts a local style with several area artists and craftspeople setting up booths in Grant Park. Even local children are going to have an opportunity to participate in this year’s festivities.

“We have the Boys and Girls Club coming, and they’re going to be making and selling crafts right there,” said Montag. “So they’re coming in and we’re giving them a booth at no charge so they can do all of their stuff.”

The struggling Michigan economy posed a challenge to finding vendors this year, Montag said, but it will also hopefully be a draw for visitors looking for an activity in their own backyards.

“With the economy, we’ve had fewer out-of-state vendors this year than we’d had in the past. Most of them are from within Michigan,” Montag said. “But we get people who come from all across Macomb County to browse. We have a lot of signs up this year and we’re hoping people who don’t want to drive out far will come to this local event.”

Men who go with their wives to the fair will also have plenty of opportunity to keep themselves occupied. A food court will be set up in the park where patrons can enjoy refreshments while local musicians provide live music for dancing and dining.

“For the men, there’s food and beer,” Montag laughs. “We had talked about doing a car show, but it was just going to pose too many issues with noise and space. But Jerry Noonan’s going to be organizing the food court this year, and James Priestly from Cactus Jack’s is organizing all the entertainment and soloists who will play.”

At the end of the day, those who patronize the free festival will also be helping Utica improve and beautify its parks system.

“It raises money for our parks and it’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Montag. “We really want to keep our parks beautiful and eventually build a hike-and-bike trail, and this helps us raise the funds for that.”

The 16th annual Old Mill Arts and Crafts Festival takes place in Utica’s Grant Park on Hahn Road, east of Van Dyke. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 26, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 27. Admission is free; a food court and musical entertainment will be available. For more information, call the city of Utica at 739-1600.