12th annual Townie Street Party: Monday, July 18th – 5:00 – 9:30PM

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The 2016 Townie Street Party, now in its 12th year, is a kick-off to Art Fair week in Ann Arbor. Taking place on Monday, July, 18th from 5:00 – 9:30 p.m., the Townie Party celebrates all things local and is our way of thanking Ann Arbor residents for so graciously hosting the Ann Arbor Art Fair each year.

The Townie Party offers a fun-filled evening for the whole family where visitors can enjoy terrific music by some of the area’s most well-known bands; grab a bite of Townie grub; enjoy a brew at the Townie Pub; or take a stroll through the Kids’ Art Fair, which showcases the work of young Washtenaw County artists in grades 3 – 8. Community Central features cool things to do in Washtenaw County and the Art Activity Zone offers a chance to explore your artistic side.

Adding to the festivities is the 3rd Annual Ann Arbor Mile – Dart for Art, a competitive fun run with divisions for elite runners and the general public. The Party takes place on N. University between Thayer and Fletcher and on south Ingalls Mall.

Proceeds from the Townie Street Party support the educational and community outreach activities of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – the Original, a 501(3) non-profit arts organization.

MUSIC

Main Stage

5:30-6:20PM
Annie & Rod Capps

On a musical journey that began in 1982, Annie and Rod Capps have earned sincere praise for their songwriting and musicianship. For more than 30 years they’ve been cultivating a symbiotic sound, delivering songs about broken things and poignant little ponderings with a rootsy vibe, a touch of twang and a soulful groove.

6:40 – 7:40PM
Drivin’ Sideways

Drivin’ Sideways is a local band who have been playing in the Ann Arbor area since 1974. They like to rock out some good old country and rockabily hits and describe their genre as rockabilly/blues/country/honky tonk.

8 – 9:15PM
Appleseed Collective

The Appleseed Collective is poised to become the new sound of string music. Riding the wave of the bluegrass revival beyond newgrass and into a strange new genre- bending teritory, they explore the full range of dark and light, old and new, composition and improvisation in deeply theatrical stage show that transports audiences through time.

ART

Kids’ Art Fair

Support Washtenaw County’s young artists in 3rd-8th grade as they display and sell their artwork just like artists at the Art Fair. Browse this marketplace full of amazing art!

Art Activity Zone

Presented by:

Explore your creative side with family-friendly activities that you can take home with you.

Hosting organizations include:

Goldfish Swim School: TBA

Ann Arbor Art Center:

See what interesting designs and textures you can make as you try out the ancient technique of engraving on copper. Once you’re done, you an hang your creation anywhere, inside or out!

Ann Arbor Learning Community:

Paint – Roll Explore the intriguing world of Monoprints as you design and print from easy material around your home. Learn two techniques that can be used over and over to create your personal materpiece!

Community Day Care Center:

Create a wild and wacky hat. They are as much fun to wear as they are to make! Visit this tent brought to you by Community Day Care to pick out the materials for your very own paper bag hat creation.

Dr. Susan Gelmen’s Conceptual Development Lab at the University of Michigan:

Bubbles at the Townie Party! Design simple wire bubble wands decorated with beads or create a more complex star, heart, or flower shape. All ages are encouraged to participate! Bubble solution will be provided to try out your creation.

Hands on Museum:

Try to design for a wind tube! Participants will be albe to design a device using consumable materials and see if they can get it to float up into the wind and gently fall back down. The goal is to have the device stay within the tube and not fly out the top. Be as creative with your design as you want!

Leslie Science and Nature Center:

Visit live animals & owls and then learn about the physical differences of herbivores and carnivores as you inspect scat and replicas of animal sculls.

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra:

Hands-on fun with instruments! Children have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they see professionally played on stage. Instrument Petting Zoos inhabit It’s a fun and educational program, suitable for pre-K through 5th grade. With trained “zookeepers” help youngsters bow a violin, pluck a cello, buzz a trumpet and blow a flute. Learn how vibrations become sound and sound becomes music.

Clay Work Studio:

Participants will be provided with a glazed tile on which ceramics colors can be painted on. Any design could be painted on as you challenge your creative mind. It is a fun and colorful way to express yourself.

Kelsey Museum of Archaeology:

Frescoes are an ancient art form that really stuck around! The Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians created beautiful paintings on wet plaster (called fresco) that survived thousands of years. Create your own painting on dry plaster (known as fresco-secco) inspired by ancient art. Limit to one fresco per participant.

Community Central

Learn what Washtenaw County has to offer. Check out the local and civic organizations that will be represented:

Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce
Ann Arbor Women Artsists (and a Few Good Men)
Area Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
University Musical Society (UMS)
Ann Arbor Film Festival
The Ann
BoyChoir of Ann Arbor
U of M Museum of Natural History
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce
Arbor Hopice & Pallitive Care
Whole Foods
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Metroparent

Ann Arbor Mile – Dart for Art

Rounding out the festivities is an all-inclusive one-mile run/walk which kicks off at 6:00PM and welcomes top runners to compete for cash awards in the Dart for Art Elite Division, as well as local athletes, families, or anyone who wnats to enjoy a run or walk in downtown Ann Arbor. There’s even a corporate team division to see what company is the fastest! Registration is open at www.dartforart.com.

Become a Townie Friend of the Fair!

Get VIP Access

Enjoy access to a private area with complimentary refreshments, premium seating and a taste-style buffet provided by some of Ann Arbor’s leading restaurants. Click here to learn how to become a Townie Friend of the Fair and get exclusive access to The Terrace.