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Posted on Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.

Heritage Festival a family affair for many residents, visitors

By Lisa Carolin

The 34th annual Ypsilanti Heritage Festival celebrated everything Ypsilanti Saturday morning with the annual parade beginning at 10 a.m in Riverside Park. High school marching bands, members of the Ypsilanti Community Choir and Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra, boy scout troops and politicians includingRep. John Dingell and Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, were all there to parade through downtown Ypsilanti.

For many residents, the event is a family affair. Five-year-old Antonio Hawkins was watching with his grandparents.

"There's a certain chain of events Antonio goes through and coming to the Heritage Festival is one of them," said his grandfather Robert Hawkins.

Antonio said he likes watching everybody pass out candy the most. His grandmother, Jasmyne Hawkins, was taking photographs of the parade.

"This is my town, and I like to take photos of everything that happens here and share it with friends around the world," she said.

heritage_3.jpg

Holly, 5, and Abby, 14, Kangas watch the beginning leg of the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Parade on Saturday.

Daniel Brenner I Annarbor.com

The parade landed on day two of the free three-day event and it runs until midnight Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Changes to this year's festival include moving the main stage entertainment under the beer tent, which means kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The festival also showcases a historical area, which this year features a Native Youth Alliance encampment with native dancing and drumming.

"This is our first year at the Heritage Festival, and we have dancers in traditional regalia and native vendors with traditional crafts," said Shoshana Phillips, who is organizing the encampment with her husband Nathan Phillips. "Before Ypsilanti was founded, Riverside Park was used by Native nations because it is the intersection between the Huron River and Michigan Avenue, which was originally a trail."

The Phillips' 12-year-old daughter Alethea Phillips is at the encampment to tell people about the organization Heritage of Healing she founded to help families dealing with cancer and other chronic diseases.

"I'm glad to be here because I think it's a good idea to let people know that Native Americans live in Ypsilanti," said Alethea Phillips.

Artist Rosalinda Vasquez from Kalamazoo was invited by the Phillips to the festival and brought her stone jewelry exhibit.

"I'm a a teacher and supporter of Native American students at Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State and am here to support the culture," said Vasquez.

There will be dancing at the encampment from 1 to 4:30 p.m and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. For a complete schedule of events at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, click here.

Comments

moveover2012

Sun, Aug 26, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.

NOW just bring back THE LATINO FESTIVAL...from 5 years ago. STILL MISS IT!

Murf

Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.

The parade is always fun but next year, could we get some people with some brains when it comes to closing down the necessary streets?!? Not closing Washington until you got to Emmet St. which is a one way street heading east (which was also closed) was the dumbest thing I have ever experienced. This parade happens every year and the people in charge of closing the proper streets still don't have a game plan?

Speedy Squirrel

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who came to the Heritage Festival Star Party last night. We didn't know what to expect in terms of attendance, but your support blew away our estimate! Thanks goes to EMU's people for adding extra planetarium shows. The show blew everybody away. Those who came to the Sherzer roof observatory saw a galaxy through the telescope, and then watched the International Space Station arc across the sky. What a night! See you all next year.

Aquarius

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.

Went and saw the French Dukes perform on Friday night. I went to Forsythe Jr. High with some of the Dukes back in 67-68. At the time they were frequently performing at the A2 farmers market. It was exciting to see the level of timing and precision that goes into their routines. Riverside Park was designed by the famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead and is one of the true gems of Washtenaw County. Lookin Good Ypsi!

brian

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.

Oh, and please bring back the Festival of Lights during Christmas.

Murf

Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.

I would so be all over volunteering for this. I loved the Festival of Lights!

Bob Krzewinski

Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.

An Ypsi Festival of Lights would be great again. I remember when we did have it. Then Tom Monahan decided he could do better and had his up at Domino Farms. Everyone went up there and that ended the Ypsi lights. Then Tom seemed to "tire" of the lights display he had and ended his. Gee thanks Tom for killing the holiday light display Ypsi was doing oh so well. And hope you enjoy living in Florida now too.

jns131

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.

Need someone to chair this and sponsors to go with it. Got any ideas? Please bring them on.

brian

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 4:19 a.m.

I love the Heritage Festival. Ypsi should use Riverside Park Everyday of the summer. Think we need a BBQ cook off. What a great park. Glad I have been going to the festival since it started. Was a teen at that time. Go Ypsi.

jns131

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.

Plus we have buses and everything to help get you there. We use AATA to do the Art Fair. Thanks for the kudos. We always seem to have great weather and Art Fair always seems to bring the rain. Interesting.

mpope

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 3:42 a.m.

Andy Clock and the rest of the Ypsilanti Heritage team did a great job. We enjoyed the festival! And the weather was marvelous, too!

Honest Abe

Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.

Love the Heritage Festival!

xmo

Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.

This is why the call EMU the Eagles! Because that was the name of the Indian Nation that live there? ""I'm glad to be here because I think it's a good idea to let people know that Native Americans live in Ypsilanti," said Alethea Phillips."

jns131

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.

Correction, Huron with a picture of a Native American on it is what we were until it became the EMU Eagles. Really don't like thinking of myself as bald.

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