April 1, 2012: Festifools, Ann Arbor MI, USA

monster • Apr 1, 2012 8:55 pm
Here in Ann Arbor, on the first Sunday in April, we have Festifools. A parade of papier mache puppets made by the University of Michigan students and the community at large. It's been going for 6 years, shameful to admit this was our first attendance. The puppets were most excellent, the atmoshpere was fun and friendly and it was really nice to celebrate a close relationship between the townies and the students.

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Steam-Punk Monkey (Steam Ponkey?) was our favorite. But so hard to judge.....
monster • Apr 1, 2012 9:01 pm
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monster • Apr 1, 2012 9:02 pm
The University of Michigan provides a big workspace where anyone can go to make puppets. It's free (although donations are appreciated)

http://festifools.org/
Sundae • Apr 2, 2012 7:36 am
That's wonderfool!

Higher number of Oriental students than I would have expected. But that's probably because being back in Aylesbury I can go a year without seeing an Oriental face. There was a larger population in Leicester and far more in Greenwich, where I worked with and made friends with people born in Hong Kong, Japan and some BBC (British Born Chinese).

I can always spot a dubbed American commercial/ photo advert because there will be a Chinese child in it. Oh, apart from the appalling dubbing in the first place.

I do admire the puppets. They look like the sort of puppets produced by workshops when I was working for the Arts company in London. Good fun all round. Now tell us about the FOOD!
monster • Apr 2, 2012 8:12 am
Photo credits to Beest, btw.

We saw candyfloss being sold, but it wasn't really a food deal. Which was surprising. We went to BDs Mongolian grill, which was nice.
CaliforniaMama • Apr 3, 2012 12:45 am
How cool! I know that stuff is big in some South American countries and some European countries, but I didn't know anyone in the states did it. Love the creativity!