All events will be held in the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area, mostly in Ypsilanti. Many events will be within a single walkable area. Downtown Ypsilanti and downtown Ann Arbor are 15-20 min. away from each other.
Friday & Saturday we'll be in Ypsi, and Sunday we'll head down the
road (about 15 minutes) to Ann Arbor.
Ypsilanti is known for its historic
character, with buildings from the 1850's on, historic festivals, car
shows. downtown (Michigan Avenue-- the same one that runs from Detroit
to Chicago) of old brick facades, and a racially and
socio-economically diverse population with a lot of pride in the
community. Home to Eastern Michigan University, Ypsi has some aspects
of a college town, but not nearly as much as our neighbors in Ann
Arbor (home of the University of Michigan) feel.
What does Ypsilanti mean? The community is named after Demetrius
Ypsilanti (we'll send you on a scavenger hunt when you're here to
learn more), a hero of the Greek Civil War. Not many Greek people in
Ypsi, but we like being one of the few Y-towns around.
Ypsilanti is a city of festivals during the warm months, mostly in our
Riverside & Frog Island Parks that feature the Huron River and run
right through the city. In July Ypsi's Riverside Park is the site of
one of only five officially sanctioned Elvisfests in the country. Pure
Elvis impersonators, knick-knacks, and fans for days straight (we've
even seen people get married at an Elvis Fest). Classic car shows are
a weekly occurrence, and include an annual Orphan Car Show, Classic
Fire Engine show, and VW show. The Latino Festival in September is
full Latino music, food, & culture. The Ypsilanti Heritage Festival in
August brings thousands of people for historic interactions, food,
and the annual Rubber Ducky Race in the Huron River. |