Mittenfest, the multi-day music fest in Ypsilanti that benefits literacy group 826Michigan, has announced its full schedule for its fifth annual incarnation.

The event takes place Dec. 30-Jan. 2 in a new venue, the Savoy, at 23 N. Washington St. in Ypsilanti.

Featuring 60 bands on two stages, the full schedule is available at the Mittenfest website.

From the Mittenfest announcement:

In its fifth year of existence, Mittenfest, an annual holiday music festival is growing once again. Last year's festival featured 40 bands over four sold-out nights at Ypsilanti's Elbow Room, and raised over $12,000.00 for 826michigan, a local non-profit organization promoting youth literacy. Organizers seek to grow this years festival organically, allowing for even more people to attend the event and additional funds to be raised for such a noteworthy cause. All proceeds from this years event will go to support 826michigan's programming in Washtenaw County.

This years lineup will feature 60 bands over 4 days on 2 stages just down the street in Ypsilanti at brand new venue Savoy (23 N. Washington, Ypsilanti, MI 48917). The event begins December 30th and ends on January 2. The expanded lineup is complemented by the new venue's expanded capacity and sound system. ...

"We are all excited about the expanded form that Mittenfest is taking on this year. As it has been from the beginning, this year's festival will be a celebration of the holiday season, community, and music with Michigan roots, all while raising funds for the 826michigan's vital mission in Washtenaw County," said Mittenfest founder Brandon Zwagerman, adding, "Moving to Savoy allows a larger number of performers and attendees to be a part of Mittenfest than ever before."

826michigan is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Their services are structured around their belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. 826michigan focuses its efforts in the Ypsilanti, Willow Run, and Ann Arbor school districts. 

"Mittenfest is a huge asset to 826michigan," said Amy Sumerton, the organization's Program Director. "This year, we're offering  after-school tutoring four days a week at 826 and at Ypsi Middle School, as well as doing weekly residencies for almost twenty teachers in eight schools. We host a field trip every Friday, have a workshop just about every night of the week. We will also publish two professionally bound books before the end of the school year. All of these programs are free. It is more difficult than ever to raise money in this economy, so community oriented events like Mittenfest, which brought in $12,000 for us last year, really keep us going."