Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
ypsifest formerly ypsilanti heritage festival festival ypsilanti michigan held year fourth weekend august festival sprawl across frog island park riverside park historic depot town festival feature variety activity entertainment including helicopter ride acrobat theater performance ring steel evening concert gambling bingo huge kid zone full child specific activity ride additionally featured even like illuminationypsifest local business compete prize creating illuminated sculpture evening display illumination parade festival first held saturday july noon til nightfall sidewalk street depot town repaved depot town association held sidewalk celebration poster advertised noon sidewalk promenade led honorable george goodman hizzoner mayor ypsilanti exciting ribbon cutting ceremony dedication plain fancy walkin sidewalk celebration success decision made repeat event known ypsilanti yesteryear heritage festival according report motivating factor desire establish historic district ypsilanti prevent city replacing historic building north huron street depot town new construction group ypsilantians applied state funding publish guidebook city historic home told money available purpose funding available stage festival grant state helped fund ypsilanti yesteryear heritage festival festival drew attendee continued grow quickly subsequent year name soon shortened present name mids festival attracting attention nonlocal newspaper — june edition toledo blade referred old time circus art craft historic home tour — later decade festival drawing attendee year though attendance subsequently declined recent year festival drawn attendee saw official cancel rd covid pandemic concern deferred ypsilanti heritage festival includes included wide variety activity event ypsilanti historic home tour held annually ypsilanti heritage festival began like festival proper beer garden gambling tent anchored center festival gambling eliminated financial reason beer garden continued expanded food drink selection however january new festival director andrew clock announced casino back set right next beer tent belongs bed race downtown ypsilanti added annual event beginning ypsilanti heritage festival parade began held every year parade attracted wider attention parade organizer approved inclusion group protesting proposed city income tax subsequently revoked permission festival coordinator explained rule exclude group marching represent controversial political issue initial approval error ypsilanti heritage festival often weekend woodward dream cruise festival coordinator decided would blast something direct opposite dream cruise nightmare cruise spoof woodward dream cruise born rule car legally driveable fluid leak minimum event included pole vault competition sanctioned usa track field live theater antique car fire engine vintage base ball sponsored greenfield village precious pet beautiful baby contest rubber duck race living history encampment high wire performance one flying wallendas circus carolyn king support ypsilanti city council became one first girl country play little league baseball found playing little league international official pulled ypsilanti american little league charter allstar game rival ypsilanti american national little league never played thirtyseven year later team reassembled similar oldtimer day event frog island park part festival billed game never american league allstars led carolyn led played center field – official web site