Posted on Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 5:07 a.m.
What did you think of new FoolMoon event?
By AnnArbor.com Staff
The weekend brought FestiFools back to Main Street, the latest version of what has quickly become a spring Ann Arbor tradition.
This year a new component was added: a separate, preliminary event called FoolMoon, which drew a packed crowd to Washington Street on Friday night to check out the creative handmade luminaries. Would you like to see it return next year? Take our poll:
Comments
Dug
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
It was great, and reminded me a lot of two things: 1. T?t Trung Thu (the Vietnamese/Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival), which my wife's local non-profit organizes a private celebration for every year: <a href="http://mamnon.org" rel='nofollow'>http://mamnon.org</a> 2. The All-Souls Procession in Tuscon, which I took my family to last November. FoolMoon lacked the Día de los Muertos flavor, but similarly had lantern parades, shadow puppetry and giant wall projections (e.g. at the Procession of Little Angels): <a href="http://www.allsoulsprocession.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.allsoulsprocession.org/</a> It was wonderful, absurd, and deeply moving. A non-profit group there, Many Mouths One Stomach, supports what they call "festal culture": <a href="http://www.manymouths.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.manymouths.org/</a> Which in my mind, isn't much different from the public celebrations and rituals we all do among own tribes (whether Punk Week, Art Fair, Penguicon, etc.). I look forward to many more!
Topher
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
Wow, I was surprised at how great this event was for its first year. It was well organized, beautiful, and packed with people! The music/movie projection/shadow puppets on the street were fantastic - really made the event more than just the walk. Next year maybe it could be two blocks at the end? Kudos to the organizers for making this a great community event. As people have pointed out - it wasn't just about the walk; it was about the process of making the lanterns and getting people from all ages to come together. The timing made it a perfect event for people itching to get outside after the cold of the winter. These events are why I love this city and moved back to Michigan after 5 years away.
Spooner
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
Lots of fun for lots of people. It was too wet and cold on Sunday, so I didn't come. Please do foolmoon again.
Angela Smith
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
Loved the whole thing -- even discovering that I had the skills to make my own fish lantern, whcih I never would have attempted without this foolish event. The Friday night before Hash Bash had me worried about how kid-friendly the evening would be, that might be worth reworking for next year...
Patti Smith
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
A total blast! While we were waiting at Slauson, we happened to be standing near the sidewalk and at least a dozen neighborhood folks came up to ask us what was going on. People were delighted when my party and I explained what it was. The timing was great too because personally, I was itching to be outside and being outside at the beer tent was an added bonus. Thanks to the Festifools crew for their work on this!!
Terminal
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.
Amazing. The best display of Public Art the city has ever experienced. And it benefitted Main St, downtown merchants and most of all the people of Ann Arbor far more than yet another fountain in front of yet another architectural monstrosity built to honor the bureaucracy. These are the kind of events that can help Ann Arbor become better known as a city that appreciates the arts. With the proper support these kind of events can be Ann Arbor's Art Prize Please city government and DDA, keep your bureaucratic hands off of these inspired events and let these types of events, like Festifools, grow organically.