April 09, 2013

FestiFools 2013

Last-minute photos before the clock strikes four. | The FestiFools drum brigade is almost ready!

FestiFools 2013 was awesome — and, lasting just 60 minutes, also a blur. The weather was perfect, the amassed Fools were pumped and giddy, smiling faces abounded, music filled the street… (Also, every child under 12 got a free pony!)

I was delighted to see so many friends and neighbors and folks-who-look-really-familiar-but-I-haven’t-officially-met-yet and folks-who-don’t-look-really-familiar-but-I-hope-to-meet-soon filling Main St. and embracing this unique and special Ann Arbor tradition. You guys rock! To show your support for FoolMoon and FestiFools, please make a donation.

Roll film…

Max has secured East Liberty St! | Practicing puppet choreography “back stage” in the alley.

FestiFools 2013 | Don’t look now, but FestiFools founder Mark Tucker just “portrait bombed” Van Gogh! Impressionist painter / human canvas / performance artist / all-around good guy Will Soleau was appreciated in his time.

Don’t look now, but FestiFools founder Mark Tucker just “portrait bombed” Van Gogh! Impressionist painter / human canvas / performance artist / all-around good guy Will Soleau was appreciated in his time.

Taking advantage of the (temporarily) open road.

Okay, puppets: line up! | Volunteer Eric Bassey gives FestiFools the “all clear!”

U-M School of Art & Design professor Nick Tobier fearlessly leads the FestiFools drum brigade.

WonderFool Productions board member and fundraising director Jeri Rosenberg has become assimilated into one of the "puppets."

FestiFools 2013 | FestiFools = Robot Invasion. Thanks to the Ann Arbor District Library, 826michigan, and The Scrap Box for gearing up this tradition.

FestiFools = Robot Invasion. Thanks to the Ann Arbor District Library, 826michigan, and The Scrap Box for gearing up this tradition.

FestiFools 2013 | I’m gonna “Huff” and puff and blow this horn all over Main St. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.). Props to Mulugeta Mekonnen, Ross Huff, and Asim Khan (and Brennan Andes, not shown) for the swingin’ live music!

I’m gonna “Huff” and puff and blow this horn all over Main St. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.). Props to Mulugeta Mekonnen, Ross Huff, and Asim Khan (and Brennan Andes, not shown) for the swingin’ live music!

FestiFools 2013 | Spontaneous Art brought a giant piñata to the Street Party. After a full hour or flailing near-misses, Trevor Stone finally landed a solid shot. If you’d been expecting a bunch of candy to come falling out, then you perhaps experienced a bit of a rude shock. (If, on the other hand, you’d been expecting piñata organs and blood vessels to fall out, then for you it was “same old, same old.”)

Spontaneous Art brought a giant piñata to the Street Party. After a full hour or flailing near-misses, Trevor Stone finally landed a solid shot. If you’d been expecting a bunch of candy to come falling out, then you perhaps experienced a bit of a rude shock. (If, on the other hand, you’d been expecting piñata organs and blood vessels to fall out, then for you it was “same old, same old.”)