Dearborn Homecoming kicks off today and we thought it would be worth running a quick list of “to dos” if you are making plans to attend.

One big change will be the new “blankets on the hill” rule”, which will generate a bit of controversy, for sure.

People cannot put their blankets on the hill until after 8 a.m. on Saturday and after 8 a.m. on Sunday. All blankets must be removed by midnight both nights. The size of the of a blanket is limited to no more than 8 feet by 8 feet to accommodate as many families as possible.

This is a good rule change but I do feel sorry for the Homecoming staff working on blanket patrol over the weekend. Some long-time Homecoming hill campers will be upset, for sure.

Other things to do at the 30th annual Homecoming include:

Rick Springfield-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage
Pop singer Rick Springfield, best known for the song “Jessie’s Girl” from his early career and as a star on the daytime drama “General Hospital,” is the headline act on Saturday night.
He brings high-energy and enthusiastic audience contact to every show, and Homecoming will be a rare chance for his devoted fans to see him for free.

Fireworks, Saturday and Sunday
Homecoming wouldn’t be Homecoming without spectacular fireworks on Saturday and Sunday nights. They are sponsored by BP/Armada Oil and Gas on Saturday and by B&K Collision on Sunday.

Car Show and Drive-In Movie
The Cruisin’ Dearborn car cruise organized by the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce will begin at the 19th District Court at 7 p.m. on Friday and travel down Michigan Avenue to Outer Drive to Cherry Hill and into Ford Field Park. The classic car show will last until about 10 p.m.
Accompanying the car show this year is a drive-in movie, with the screen set up near the cars at the bottom of the hill. Showing will be Three Stooges shorts and the movie American Graffiti. The fun begins at 9:15 p.m. and is sponsored by Mayor John B. O’Reilly.

Other stage entertainment
Local favorite Fifty Amp Fuse will be the final act on Sunday night, playing at 8:30 p.m.
On Friday, Larry Lee and the Back in the Day will be on the Main Stage 7-9 p.m. The popular Detroit band, led by former NFL player and executive Larry Lee, can play funk, blues, jazz, classic rock, gospel, and even some contemporary tunes.

Other favorites
The Dearborn Community Arts Council’s Craft Show will take place on Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
And back again is the Living History Hill with historical re-enactors, musical entertainment, crafts, antique firearms, a high tea and more.
The Turbo Turtle Race returns for its second year on Sunday at 4 p.m. to raise money for the Kiwanis Club of Outer Drive’s children’s projects.
Back in 2009 is the Nickelodeon channel’s live stage show on Sunday afternoon.
And service clubs and charitable organizations will be serving food, beverages and beer from Labatt Blue once again.

New to 2009-Guitar Hero
It is the sensation that can’t be stopped. New to Homecoming in 2009 is a “Guitar Hero” tournament on Saturday and Sunday. $5 fee applies. Registration is at noon both days, and the tournament begins at 1 p.m.

Welcome back-pancake breakfast
A pancake breakfast by the First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn from 9-noon on Sunday, inside the Polish Tent, on the east side of the carnival.

For more info:
Visit  www.cityofdearborn.org for the complete schedule.

The word “America” represents the end of the rainbow for many immigrants seeking a better way of life. For native Arabic speakers dreaming of a new life in the U.S., the word often comes out sounding more like “Amreeka” than “America.”

Amreeka, the award-winning feature film debut of Arab American writer/director Cherien Dabis, will have its Michigan premiere at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn.

Cherien Dabis will be present for a post-screening Q & A session. This special evening also includes a halal iftar dinner (those observing Ramadan will break their fast, while others may simply enjoy the delicious Arabic meal) plus dessert and coffee.

Tickets for the film screening only are $7 ($6 for AANM Members), while tickets for the entire evening (film, Q&A, dinner, dessert) are just $10 ($9 for AANM Members). That’s a complete evening of dining and entertainment for less than the price of a multiplex movie ticket.

To purchase advance tickets, available ONLINE ONLY, visit http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/amreekamichiganpremiere.

 Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Email questions to Rachid Elabed at relabed@accesscommunity.org.

Amreeka chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the West Bank with Fadi, her teenage son, with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small-town Illinois. Told with heartfelt humor by writer/director Dabis, Amreeka is a universal journey into the lives of a family of immigrants and first-generation teenagers caught between their heritage, the new world in which they now live and the bittersweet search for a place to call home.

Amreeka stars Nisreen Faour as Muna; Melkar Muallen plays her 16-year-old son. Also in the cast are Hiam Abbass, Alia Shawkat, Yussef Abu-Warda and Joseph Ziegler. For more on the film and Dabis, please visit www.amreeka.com.

Amreeka premiered as on official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; was the opening night presentation at New Directors/New Films; and won the critics prize in Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, where it also took home the FIPRESCI Prize.

National Geographic Entertainment is hosting advance screenings of Amreeka in major U.S. cities in advance of a mid-September commercial opening. In metro Detroit, the film opens September 18 at the Uptown Birmingham Theatre and Landmark Maple 3. For group sales information, email  amreekagroupsales@gmail.com.

This special event is presented by: Arab American National Museum; National Network for Arab American Communities; American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan; www.ArabDetroit.com; Greenlight Film Funding; and Mike Mosallam, in collaboration with National Geographic Entertainment.

The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves, celebrates, and educates the public on the history, life, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans. It serves as a resource to enhance knowledge and understanding about Arab Americans and their presence in this country. The Arab American National Museum is a project of ACCESS, a Dearborn, Michigan-based nonprofit human services and cultural organization. Learn more at  www.arabamericanmuseum.org and www.accesscommunity.org.

The Arab American National Museum is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Read about the Affiliations program at  http://affiliations.si.edu.

The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48126. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under, free. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.