Supporters of enticing Google’s high-speed Internet to Ann Arbor are preparing to end the request for information period with a bang.

A2 Fiber and other collaborators are organizing GoogleFest, a daylong event Friday that will include music, entertainment and discounts at area businesses.

“Our goal is to have it be the biggest A2 Fiber supporting event to catapult the city onto the national level,” Ann Arbor Ad Club President Chad Wiebesick said. “This is our last opportunity, we want to make it on the national news.”

Google launched a nationwide competition in February to decide which city would be the test site for its new fiber optic network. The plan would process one gigabit of data per second and provide Internet speeds about 100 times faster than most Americans have today.

Cities across the country have been employing creative means as they compete for Google’s attention. The mayor of Duluth, Minn., jumped into Lake Superior to show his enthusiasm, while Topeka, Kansas, has renamed itself “Google” for the month of March to demonstrate its interest. 

Grand Rapids, Lansing and the nearby communities of Saline and Pittsfield Township are also vying for the network. The deadline for Google’s request for information is Friday.

Wiebesick said Googlefest will start with a flash mob from 11:57 a.m. to noon on the Diag of the University of Michigan’s campus. He said participants will gather on the site to sing the A2 Fiber anthem (created at their most recent event Sunday). The crowd will be recorded on video and sent to Google to demonstrate Ann Arbor’s interest in the project.

Wiebesick said a booth of laptop computers will be available on the Diag from noon to 8 p.m. to encourage people to submit a formal request to Google to bring its high-speed Internet to Ann Arbor. 

Co-organizer Brandon Wallace, one of the leaders of the student-based organization One Gigabit Future, said he is organizing U-M student groups to perform from noon to 5 p.m. and live local bands will play from 5-8 p.m. on the Diag.

Participating businesses will also have laptops on hand for patrons to show their support via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or submitting a formal request to Google.

The businesses include:

• Ashley's (338 S. State St.) - 10 percent off bill
• Bivouac (336 S. State St.) - spend $50 and get 10 percent off. Expires at 6 p.m. Friday.
• BTB Burrito (810 S. State St.) - 50 cents off any burrito
• Buffalo Wild Wings (205 S. State St.) - Receive four free boneless chicken wings from noon to 1 p.m.
• Conor O'Neills (318 S. Main St.) - 15 percent off order from noon to 4 p.m.
• Stucchi's Ice Cream (302 S. State St. and 1121 S. University Ave.) - Buy one ice cream and get a second free from noon to 5 p.m.

Wallace said it's Ann Arbor’s last chance to prove itself to Google.

“I don't think Google cares about seeing a mayor jump in a lake,” he said. “I think Google cares much more about people being able to organize themselves and come together at multiple levels to get behind a cause, and of course, to be able to throw a good party.”

Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2537 or via email at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.