Some Ann Arborites consider the townie party to be the event of the year, for others 4/20 is the occasion not to be missed, while most consider the Art Fair to be the highlight of the summer, but I prefer a lesser known annual Ann Arbor event: Top of the Park.
For 3 weeks each June/July the corridor between the Modern Languages Building and the League is transformed into an outdoor concert venue/movie theater. The best part? Admission is free to almost everything! Most days the events start around 5 and continue until midnight without stopping. Typically, musical acts are featured in the afternoon and the night ends with a movie. The outdoor festivities are technically "Top of the Park" while the indoor Mainstage series includes ticketed performances or music, dance, theater, and comedy. The festival officially kicks off next Friday, June 17th. Here are some of the highlights this year:
Amococo--(prepare yourself for a lot of adjectives) An enormous, interactive, walk-through, inflatable sculpture. There are 86 3-sided domes to explore in this labyrinth. It looks like the love child of cirque du soleil and a rave--what's not to love about that?
Performers:
Andrew Bird (@PowerCenter, not a free event, unfortunately)
Theo Katzman (Former member of My Dear Disco and UM alum, this solo performer with knack for poetic melodies is worth seeing!!!)
Movies:
Despicable Me
Inception
The Social Network
Back to the Future
You may be asking what this event has to do with philanthropy. Well, I've been attending Top of the Park for the past 5 years and I have been thoroughly impressed at the entertainment they provide for free. Thanks to the generosity of donors and donations this event is able to come back year after year. At the entrance there are donation receptacles and if you attend this year I urge you to contribute something little, if you can. Events like Top of the Park help maintain Ann Arbor's reputation for being a unique, fun place to live.
Visit the official website for a more comprehensive list of events: http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/
Here's to Festivals--lc.
