THE DETROIT GRAND PRIX will be at Belle Isle starting Friday, Aug.29

Green iinitiatives, the world’s largest live festival blog, a new racing series and rich jazz traditions from Detroit and Philadelphia are among the new features offered at “3 Days inthe D” this Labor Day weekend, reports the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB).

Three signature events, the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Detroit International Jazz Festival and Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats are jointly marketed as “3 Days in the D.” Spearheaded by the DMCVB and the City of Detroit, “3 Days in the D” is in partnership with each event, helping to set the stage for one of the most popular and active weekends of the summer, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

The 2008 “3 Days in the D” events have an exciting lineup of new activities for all ages. This year’s Detroit International Jazz Festival is “A Love Supreme: the Philly/Detroit Summit” featuring a tribute to Motown’s Marvin Gaye, a nod to Philly soul with Dee Dee Sharp, a battle of the big bands with the Count Basie and Gerald Wilson orchestras on stage at the same time, blues guitarist Derek Trucks and gospel with Dorinda Clark and Calvin Cooke’s Sacred Steel. With a new commitment to jazz education, the festival will feature 29 middle and high school bands from Michigan as well as college bands from Philadelphia, Boston and Stockton.

Meanwhile, in Pontiac, Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats will be going green with ITC Greenways. These green initiatives including major recycling efforts with volunteer manned waste bins, use of bio made and degradable cups, plates and utensils at all food and beverage locations, two blocks of environmental non-profit and vendor booths, recycled materials used for all children’s crafts with Arts & Scraps, and festival-goers will be encouraged to take public transportation through promotions with SMART or ride their bikes along the Clinton River Trail to our bike corral. Don’t forget to join the world’s largest live festival blog by sharing your thoughts at the Blogin Café, or show your gaming guitar skills in the Guitar Hero Championships. In addition, the festival will be honoring military families at the Chrysler Freedom Fest.

Fans can expect more family entertainment, cars, drivers and teams – along with a new racing series – at this year’s Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Featuring the recently-unified IndyCar Series, the American Le Mans Series and, new for 2008, the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship, the on-track action will be spectacular at the Grand Prix. Live concerts featuring national musical acts will perform Saturday and Sunday, there will be plenty of new activities in the Family Fun Zone and an increased focus on environmentally friendly “green” racing initiatives and fan comfort throughout the weekend, including improved transportation on and off the island.

“Labor Day Weekend is the perfect time for metro Detroiters and visitors to truly experience the D. We anticipate this year’s “3 Days in the D” to be bigger and better than last year,” said Larry Alexander, DMCVB president and CEO. “With all the new activities at each event, we encourage metro Detroiters to spend some of this Labor Day Weekend in the D. And Detroit is an accessible, affordable alternative as a Midwestern big city vacation destination. “

The Michigan State Fair in Detroit, Michigan Peach Festival in Romeo and the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly complete a great weekend in the region.

For more information about “3 Days in the D,” go to www.visitdetroit.com.