Pure Michigan Connect - Michigan's Travel and Tourism Blog

Pure Michigan Connect - Michigan's Travel and Tourism Blog

Fairs & Festivals

Cheers to Michigan’s thriving craft brewing industry

July 25, 2012

in Events,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger

In honor of Michigan Craft Beer Month, guest blogger Dianna Stampfler fills us in on our state’s beer industry and some upcoming Michigan beer festivals you don’t want to miss!

From coast to coast to coast, Michigan’s craft brewing industry is growing like a fast-acting yeast – with some 100 active breweries – with dozens of expansions and new brewery projects in various stations of development.  

Michigan has a long history of brewing – dating back to the 1800s around mining, lumbering and industrial towns throughout both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. At one time, there were nearly 40 breweries operating in and around Detroit’s Eastern Market. Grand Rapids – recently named “Beer City USA” following a nation-wide online consumer poll – was home to a large number of beer barons throughout the 19th Century.

In recent years, Michigan beer has become even more local. Of course, water is a primary ingredient and being surrounded by the Great Lakes gives brewers access to some of the freshest tasting water to begin their brewing process. Add to that locally-grown hops and barley, as well as the addition of unique herbs, fruits – like beet sugar, cherries and apples, among others, and even vegetables, and the result is a pint-full of freshly fermented goodness! In fact, Michigan craft brewers produce more than 100 distinct styles of flavorful, award-winning beers.

Today’s breweries have become an active part of Michigan’s thriving tourism and culinary industries – under the guidance of the Michigan Brewers Guild, which was founded in 1997. A growing number of beer dinners, tours, festivals and other events are focused on this exciting brewing culture, collectively tapping into tens of thousands of fans from all walks of life.

July is Michigan Craft Beer Month – a time to celebrate these small, community-based businesses rich with passion and pride. There’s even a Michigan Beer Fight Song – a rallying tune sung at every Michigan Brewers Guild festival:

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For more information about Michigan’s craft beer industry, visit www.MiBeer.com or michigan.org.

UPCOMING MICHIGAN BREWERS GUILD FESTIVALS

Dianna Stampfler is a long-time promoter of Michigan and a supporter of the state’s vast culinary and agricultural offerings – including, but not limited to, craft beer!

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The Buy Michigan Now Festival Aims to Revitalize the Local Economy

July 20, 2012

in Events,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger

The Buy Michigan Now Festival, coming up August 3-5 in Northville, will showcase various Michigan entertainers, businesses, products and educational opportunities with the goal of revitalizing the local economy.

Today, Lisa Diggs, founder of the Buy Michigan Now campaign, tells us what to expect at this family-friendly Michigan festival.

Q: For those who aren’t familiar with the Buy Michigan Now Festival, can you provide a brief overview of the event?

A: The festival was created to help celebrate Buy Michigan Week, and to draw attentionto Michigan-based businesses and products made here in the Great Lakes State.  There’s a wide range of products from jewelry to cabinetry and soaps to salsa.  Every vendor and sponsor must be Michigan-based in order to participate.  We hold the event in downtown Northville, a quaint suburb or Detroit that has almost entirely locally owned businesses rather than national chains.  We believe that it will be businesses like these, each hiring one or two more people, that will truly help Michigan to rebound economically, so I guess you can call it a “fest with a cause.”  Collectively supporting local businesses will help us revitalize the state, and doing it in a festival environment makes it tons of fun for the whole family. 

Q: What makes this a fun festival for Michiganders?

A: Many of the street merchants and vendors will be selling products made in Michigan.  The Northville merchants are hosting a sidewalk sale so there are greatbargains.  Aside from that, live music from a collection of talented Michiganders will fill the air.  There is a video gaming unit to play X-Box 360 games, and a Kids Zone featuring magic, mascots, games, face-painting, and artists from the Detroit Institute of Arts helping kids and adults create original projects that they can keep.

Q: What activities or displays are most popular?

A: People tend to flock to try food products like Kelly’s Karamels, Great Lakes Potato Chips, and jerky from J.Deans Smoke House.  The funky sound of Mainstreet Soul on Saturday night is a big draw, as is the magic of Chris Clark.  There’s always something fun happening in the Kids Zone, and Northville’s First Friday Experience is an added treat.  Each month on the first Friday local businesses create unique ways to entertain guests with food and art, and we are lucky enough to have our festival fall on a First Friday.

Q: Is there anything new returning attendees can expect this year?

A: The Northville Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to add what will soon be one of our hottest attractions, the Taste of Michigan beer tent.  Play 1st Mobile Gaming will be on hand so guests can challenge each other with a variety of family-friendly X-Box 360 games.  Northville is also a host city for the DIA’s Inside|Out outdoor art exhibition.  Now in its third year, the program brings reproductions of masterpieces from the DIA’s collection to the streets and parks of the metro area.  Six works of art have been installed around the downtown Northville area for people to explore and enjoy.   

Q: Outside of the festival, where are some hot spots in Northville attendees should check out?

A: The streets are lined with Victorian era homes, making a stroll or drive through the neighborhood a must do, and you can step even further back in time with a visit to nearby Mill Race Historical Village.  The town is home to fantastic galleries and boutiques like State of MInd, Starring the Gallery, Art House, Rock on Main, and Van Dam’s Boutique.  There are also unique specialty shops like Stampeddler Plus and Celebrity Pets.  Next Chapter Bookstore & Bistro was the setting for Scream 4 starring Courtney Cox, David Arquette, and Neve Campbell.  There are a host of restaurants to choose from like iconic Poole’s Tavern for a casual dining experience or Table 5 for a more upscale night out.  Kids can have fun looking for secret fairy doors around town too.  More than 70 Northville businesses have tiny little doors for use by magical fairies.  It’s fun to see how many your family can spot.

Q: Where can people go for more information on the Buy Michigan Now Festival?

A: Smartphone users can text BUYMINOW to 57780 to be entered to win cool prizes from Michigan-based business and to gain access to a mobile application with all the latest festival details. Current details may also be found online at www.BuyMichiganNowFest.com.

Lisa Diggs is the owner of The Catalyst Company, an 11-year old performance consulting business that specializes in helping organizations become more productive and profitable.  In fall of 2007, Lisa founded the Buy Michigan Now campaign to ignite the revitalization of Michigan’s economy.  The focus of this advocacy program is to create awareness of the importance of supporting Michigan-based businesses and speaking positively about what our home state has to offer. 

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Hack yes! Maker Faire Detroit returns to The Henry Ford, July 28-29

July 12, 2012

in Events,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger

I’m still new to the world of making and hacking. I’d never heard terms like “Maker space” or “hack space” until our family visited last year’s Maker Faire Detroit at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. After that experience, we immediately put this year’s Maker Faire Detroit – July 28-29 – on our calendar.

There is fun for the whole family at the Cirque Amongus exhibit space.

Turns out, many folks are Makers of some sort and don’t even know it. If you tinker, craft, cook, innovate, build or create just about anything – guess what? There’s a Maker in the house.

I make my own sewing creations, and my girls make jewelry and are all about wearable art. My 10-year-old son takes apart old electronics and attempts to repurpose them into some sort something – even if it’s an abstract glued montage of spare parts. I know spring has sprung at our house when I see our Red Maple outfitted with one of his creative home-designed pulley systems. It just never dawned on me – until last year – to call any of us (let alone all of us!) Makers.

Maker Faire is all about sharing inspiration and innovation.

Granted, at last year’s Maker Faire Detroit we saw some pretty grand-scale Making: a fire-breathing dragon, an interactive circus experience and some extreme theatrics. But there was also the opportunity to get up close to small-scale and rather revolutionary creations including art installations, 3D printers, old and new science projects. There were also some homespun items such as heirloom brooms, jewelry and textile designs, food and health products and all sorts of items from the high- to low-tech and the nifty to nerdy (in the very best sense). The Henry Ford also brings out for discovery and sharing some items from its collections that are not usually on the museum floor.

Clara Deck, senior conservator at The Henry Ford, prepares miniature steam engines from the collections to display at Maker Faire Detroit.

With 400 Makers exhibiting at this year’s Maker Faire Detroit, there will be all kinds of awesome Making that falls between the big and bizarre and small, artsy and tasty. Categories of exhibitors include engineering, arts, agriculture, technology, design, science, crafts, young Makers, household, educational, green energy, music and food. Makers come from hacker spaces, corporations, schools, studios, kitchens, basements and garages – near and far. There are things to do, see, touch, take and buy.

I love the fact there is absolutely something for everybody.  In our household with children of all ages, we enjoyed the event’s carnival-like atmosphere with all its showmanship, camaraderie, idea sharing, forward-thinking and historic Making displayed and discussed right there on the grounds of the one place that truly celebrates innovation to its core.

Exhibits are outside and inside of Henry Ford Museum.

The Maker Faire Detroit website features some blog posts and video clips of makers attending this year’s Faire, as well as a look at some from last year’s event. I can’t help but find inspiration knowing that some regular Making folks are responsible for some life-changing innovation that many of us take for granted. And although my own tinkering may not lead to the discovery of how to build a better mousetrap, I can’t help but be encouraged by maker Mark Perez in knowing that at least I can strive to build a much, much bigger one.

Kristine Hass is a mother of five and long-time member of The Henry Ford. She frequently blogs about coming events and visits to America’s Greatest History Attraction. All photos courtesy of Kristine.

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Artistic Expressions

May 14, 2012

in Events,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger

Karman Hotchkiss, contributing writer for Michigan Travel Ideas, shares insider tips on how to successfully navigate and get the most out of any art fair this season.

This year, I plan to kick off the art fair season with a one-two punch of festivals—the East Lansing Art Festival and the Michigan State University Arts and Crafts Show. These dual events—across the street from each other in East Lansing—give me a taste of just about every kind of art you can imagine.

As you head to art fairs in your area this summer, here are a couple of tips:

  • Pack a cheat sheet with measurements and paint colors. My friend Susan doesn’t venture into an art show without her little zipper bag of home data. She knows the exact measurement of that space above the fireplace and has paint chips for her hard-to-match lavender bathroom. So when she falls in love with a painting, vase or rug, she knows if it will fit or match.
  • Chat with the artists. Art fairs usually put you face-to-face with the creators. What a great way to learn the story behind each piece. At last year’s East Lansing show, I learned delightful details about wood turning from Michigan artist Ted July, whose wooden bowls with bark rims intrigued me. This year, you’ll find him at booth #94.
  • Don’t miss the kid art. Most festivals sponsor a hands-on area for children and display works from local schools. This is a wonderful place to experience the pure joy of unaffected artistic expression. It might even draw out your inner artist.
  • Check out companion shows. Wherever there’s a sophisticated juried art show, you can bet there’s probably a grassroots arts and crafts fair nearby. (In East Lansing, a mere boulevard separates the two.) These craftier shows offer plenty of fun, interesting, sometimes more practical finds that complement the work of the professional artists. 
  • Go home with something. If a big piece isn’t in your budget (or won’t fit in the car), you can still go home with a memento. Many artists sell note cards, magnets or other small reproductions of their work. These are a great way to celebrate artistic spirit without spending a lot.

For a listing of art shows in Michigan this summer, please visit michigan.org.

Karman Hotchkiss, a native Midwesterner, is a contributing writer for Michigan Travel Ideas. Every time she attends an art fair, she wants to go home and lock herself in her crafting room for a week.

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Tulip Time in Pure Michigan

April 25, 2012

in Cultural & Heritage,Events,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger

The Tulip Time Festival, taking place from May 5 – 12 in Holland, is a celebration of Dutch heritage and culture. Today, Gwen Auwerda, Executive Director of the festival, answers some of our questions about this fun event.

Q: How did the Tulip Time Festival start and why did it start in Holland?
A: Lida Rogers, a Holland High School biology teacher, had an idea in 1929 to beautify the city.  Implemented by the city of Holland and Mayor Earnest Brooks, the city purchased 100,000 imported bulbs from the Netherlands and planted them in the parks and along the street curbs.  Lida’s idea was to have one day set aside every years as a “tulip day.”  When the tulips bloomed in 1929 and Tulip Time was first announced to the world, the response was overwhelming.  Thousands of tourists visited the city during an eight-day period, this date chosen because the tulips would be in full bloom.  Over the years the festival has grown in attendance with over 500,000 visitors each year and 6 million tulips planted in the city, parks and local attractions.

Q: How many people attend the Festival and how far do people travel?
A: Attendance is over 500,000 visitors during the Festival and in 2011, visitors from over 40 countries were represented.

Q: What sorts of activities are planned for the festival?
A: Dutch Dancing is a highlight for guests.  The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces, seven of which are represented in costume by the dancers during the festival.  In general, the clothing represents the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Over 900 dancers can be seen daily in their traditional dress.

We have 3 signature parades with the largest parade being the Saturday Muziekparade (Music Parade) with approximately 30 bands participating.

Community art & culture organizations provide a variety of evening events showcasing their talent.  Also included in the evening shows are national entertainment acts.  Additionally, as part of the festival we have fireworks, art & craft fair, Kinderplaats – our children’s festival, Tulip City Tours – a 70 minute guided tour of the local area and the Tulip Time Run.

Q: Are there any activities new for this year’s festival?
A: New for 2012 – Modern Delftware Art Class, Family Rest Area, QuikTrip Parking Shuttle, Bier Tuin – our Dutch Beer Garden, and a text to vote for the Volksparade on Wednesday for your favorite float and a text to vote on Saturday’s Muziekparade for your favorite band.

Q: How does the festival focus on Holland’s Dutch heritage?
A: Our focus on Dutch heritage can be experienced at the  Dutch Marktplaats – a place where you can experience the tastes, sights, sounds and crafts of 19th century Holland.  Dutch food, dancing, crafts, costumes and shopping all in one place. 

Q: Do you have any tips for people that want to grow their own tulips?
A: Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall before the ground freezes and they bloom in the spring.  They can withstand very cool temperatures and even snow after they have begun to pop out of the ground in the spring.  They are a very hearty flower.  The blooms last approximately 21 days and come in early, mid and late blooming varieties.

Q: Where can people go to learn more about the festival?
A: tuliptime.com is the website for the Holland Tulip Time Festival.  The schedule of events, map of the tulip lanes, shows and ticket purchases can all be found on our website.

Gwen Auwerda is Executive Director of the Tulip Time Festival.

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