• Event preview: Dexter Daze festival expands, features updated Mill Creek Park

Dexter Daze just keeps growing, from the number of artists and businesses with booths to the footprint of the event, which now includes Mill Creek Park as well as Monument Park. The more than 100 vendors as well as organizers hope the number of visitors grows, too.

"I had really good sales last year," said returning vendor William Patrick O'Toole Miller, artist and owner of Physical Illusions.

He recycles and repurposes materials like bowling balls and golf clubs and turns them into colorful ornaments including turtles, peacocks and penguins. Bonnie Bisson purchased a Spartan ant at the Physical Illusions booth.

"This is for our front yard," she said.

Bisson was with her 10-year-old son Hudson who was heading to the sand art booth, and her husband Rob who said, "I like the beer tent best. You see tons of people you know, and it's good beer."

Booths included clothing, toys, jewelry vendors and more. Cindy and Jim Pierson from Ann Arbor own the Natural Designs Jewelry booth.

"We've been coming to Dexter Days for 20 years," said Jim Piersen.

Kathie Weinman sold World Book Encyclopedias at Dexter Daze 30 years ago. This year she's visiting with family.

"It's become huge!" she said.

Visitor Fran Schultz said, "I like the music and the atmosphere. There are great sidewalk sales. Dexter is a nice small town."

There were also information booths like the one promoting the Webster Fall Festival, which is Sept. 28.

"Almost everyone who's stopped by our booth knows about the Webster Fall Festival because Webster Township has so many connections to Dexter," said Malaika Whitney, whose artwork will be for sale at the Webster Fall Festival's art and historical exhibit.

Dexter Daze started Friday and runs through Saturday night.

Tom Paup, the new chair of Dexter Daze, says he hopes to see the event expand even more in years to come. He mentions the rock climbing wall on Jeffords Street and the Mill Creek Park amphitheater as two of this year's additions.

"Things are going great," said Paul. "We have a big turnout and fantastic weather."

Things are also going well for the Dexter Area Historical Society and Museum.

"Our raffle sales are excellent," said member Sharon Wheeler. "People want to support Gordon Hall."

Longtime patrons can still rely on Dexter Daze traditions like the $10,000 raffle, which will benefit Gordon Hall this year. the parade, which took place Saturday morning, and the Little Conductors Train, located on Jeffords Street until 7 p.m. Saturday.

Activities Saturday afternoon and evening at Dexter Daze include tours of Gordon Hall, Top Hat Street Performers, along with music from the Dexter Community Orchestra and Dexter Encore Theatre at the Mill Creek Amphitheater beginning at 3 p.m., and music from Rhythm on a Stick, the RFD Boys, and Bugs Beddow, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Monument Park Gazebo.

For the Dexter Daze complete schedule, go to http://www.dexterdaze.org/schedule.html.