GETTING UNDERWAY
Two-day centennial celebration starts Thursday
Events are set to get underway Thursday and Friday evenings as Royal Oak celebrates its 100th year as a city.
The focus of the celebration will be in the civic center area, including the new Centennial Commons downtown park, from 4-9 p.m. both days.
Centennial Commons, a 2.2acre park, opens to the public on Thursday and a formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday.
“We are going to have tons of local entertainment,” Judy Davids, city community engagement specialist, said. “It will be exciting because it’ll be the first time to see Centennial Commons.”
Shortly before the park dedication, Edward Nahhat and the Shakespeare Royal Oak Actors troupe will perform a comedy skit on the city’s history.
Mayor Michael Fournier and other officials will be on hand for the annual tree-lighting ceremony in front of the Royal Oak 44th District courthouse at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Other civic center locations for the celebration include the library, the new City Hall and police station, Farmers Market and the new Henry Ford Health Systems building.
Farmers Market, started in 1926, is extending its annual holiday market activities from one to two days during the event.
Food, retailers, trolley rides and children’s activities will also be part of the centennial celebration.
“The market will have the Holiday Magic craft show both days,” Davids said, “and there will be entertainment inside the market and there will be food trucks.”
The Royal Oak Schools district is also 100 years old this year and will have a display inside the market.
Santa will visit on both days from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and be on hand inside the new city police station.
The new Henry Ford medical building will be open both evenings to residents, who can visit and enjoy hot chocolate. Over at the new City Hall an ice sculpture will be displayed inside the building.
Visitors can also stop in at the recently renovated Royal Oak Public Library, which will have historical photos, yearbooks, phone directors and digitized Royal Oak Tribune newspapers from the 1920s era.
People who get a ticket at any of the buildings in the civic center and have it stamped at all the other buildings in the center will be eligible for a free $10 gift card. The city’s Downtown Development Authority is paying for 1,000 of the gift cards to be handed out for use at businesses in the district.
A list of events for the two days is on the city website at romi.gov/100.