FestiFools 2024: FestiFables!
The Fools are back! FestiFools is returning to Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor to celebrate with all NEW Giant Papier-Mâché Puppets and Foolish mayhem! FestiFools explodes onto Main Street for one hour only, from 4-5 p.m., Sunday, April 7th.
All Winter long, University of Michigan students and community volunteers have been busy crafting a riotous band of irreverent larger-than-life puppets made from cardboard, tape, bamboo and papier-mâché— Based on the theme “FestiFables” these imaginative Giant Puppets are ready to celebrate this Spring and bring out the inner Fool in all of us!
Want to join the Foolishness and volunteer for FestiFools? You can sign up to help out on-street or at the FestiFools Studio online.
FoolMoon 2024: FoolBloom!
FoolMoon returns to downtown Ann Arbor with light-filled art, street dancing, and Foolish fun! This year's theme, "FoolBloom", will bring Spring to Ann Arbor with snapDRAGONS, EYErises, TIGER lillies, and hundreds of other luminous sculptures!
Master Detroit Parade Float Artist Jimmie Thompson will be on hand to help participants create wondrous and luminous sculptures out of a little imagination, wire, tissue paper, tape and LED lights at FestiFools Studio's series of Free Luminary Sculpture making workshops (aka "Fool U.") every Sunday in March from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Hathaway’s Hideaway in Downtown Ann Arbor–with complimentary coffee provided by Sweetwaters.
Pre-registration for "Fool U." is highly suggested. Sign up to attend any Sunday workshop online. (Walk-ins welcome, space permitting.)
FoolMoon Luminary Kits are available for sale starting March 1st!
Make a cool Luminary Butterfly at home! FestiFools volunteers have created fun kits containing everything necessary including ALL tools, materials, and youtube video instructions, so that you can create your own FoolBloom butterfly-shaped lantern at your convenience. These kits are available at Ace Barnes Hardware on Stadium, Found Gallery at Kerrytown, and Sweetwaters on Washington St. All proceeds from these kit sales helps support FestiFools Studio's free public art events and creative educational activities.
On Friday, April 5th, FoolMoon participants gather at one of 3 different “Constellation Stations”: Slauson Middle School, the front lawn of UMMA, and the Kerrytown Farmers Market. Stepping off at 8pm the luminary processionals will dance and cavort through downtown Ann Arbor, winding through neighborhoods and past restaurants. Hundreds of luminary sculptures (and their makers!) will pour onto Washington Street in front of Grizzly Peak/Sweetwaters for a Luminous Celebration of lights, music, and dancing from dusk to Midnight!
This year's FoolMoon will feature a HUGE Live Music Dance Party on Washington Street led by The Ruckus - a super-talented ensemble of jazz/funk musicians from the U-M School of Music, Theater and Dance. Grizzly Peak will be offering a special FoolBrew under the tent created just for FoolMoon celebrants. Bring your luminary and bring a friend!
For more information on FestiFools & FoolMoon 2024, visit Facebook at ‘FestiFools Studio’.
Thank you to our sponsors!
FestiFools Organizers want to send out a huge thank you to all of our sponsors and donors who have made FestiFools and FoolMoon possible this year!
Contact:
Mark Tucker
Founder/Creative Director
FestiFools and FoolMoon
marktuck@umich.edu
Julia Hagopian
Production Manager
FestiFools and FoolMoon
joolie@umich.edu
All photos courtesy of Myra Klarman
