Leob Member Username: Leob
Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 12:46 pm: | |
Anyone remember when there was a different ethnic festival happening every weekend in Hart Plaza? Vendors used to jam the upper AND lower concourses. Now each one that remains, although popular, seems to suffer under poor promotion and their inability to use the media to get the word out. Why is this ? |
Taj920 Member Username: Taj920
Post Number: 241 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 1:29 pm: | |
The Italians moved their event to Freedom Hill, maybe to be closer to their members, about 20 years ago. |
Trying_2_stay Member Username: Trying_2_stay
Post Number: 31 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 1:41 pm: | |
I remember it started this year with the Hoedown like it always does. They still happen and the few I have been to were pretty crowded. Downtown Hoedown May 19 - May 21 Movement Detroit's Electronic Music Festival May 27 - 29 Freedom Festival Fireworks June 28 Chaldean Festival July 29 - 30 Ribs and Soul Festival August 4 - 6 Caribbean International Festival August 11 - 13 African World Festival August 18 - 20 Festival of India August 25 - 27 and the final one of the year and my favorite Detroit International Jazz Festival September 2 - 4 (Message edited by Trying_2_stay on August 12, 2007) |
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 208 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 9:51 pm: | |
The 32nd Annual Mexican Festival will be in Downtown Pontiac Friday through Sunday, August 24-26, 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Admission $5 per person, $3 for seniors over 62, children Under 12 free. Come enjoy great music, dancing, crafts, food and more. This year's special guests is Stampede from Dallas/Fort Worth who will perform every night at 9:30 p.m. http://www.pontiac.mi.us/pdf/2 007mexicanfestival.pdf |
Craig Member Username: Craig
Post Number: 218 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 8:47 am: | |
What decisions were made to end individual festivals I don't know, but my analysis is... -decreasing sense of safety. Despite what others have claimed on other threads there were numerous, documented instances of violence in the Plaza (Joann Was and the murder State Trooper were big news 15 and 20 years ago) -"ethnics" moved out of Detroit, and so it became easier to to "play" locally rather than make the long drive downtown, especially to a city that was no longer home -"ethnics" went native. The older generation faded and the youngsters were assimilated into the mainstream. Stamping to a polka may bring back fond childhood memories, but this has become decreasingly relevant to generations with no first-hand experience with the old country, DPs, etc. My opinion: my tribe's festival was a blast, and although I understand why they ended I wish that they had not. |
|