ABOUT US

EVENTS

We host events throughout the moderate months of the year.

ARTS

Music, Painting, you name it, we encourage it.

COMMUNITY

We strive to bring the people of Ypsi together.

COMMERCE

Enabling local business owners to interact with the community of Ypsi.

OUR STORY

First Fridays Ypsilanti was created in 2013 with the vision of connecting local artists and businesses to host events and bring community members to the commercial districts to have fun. For years, it could be counted on that on the First Friday of every month (April through December), there would be art and music events, gallery openings, and more – all happening in Ypsilanti.

When COVID threw us for a loop in 2020, we pivoted, and when businesses were at restricted capacities or needed to be only outdoors and couldn’t host artists inside their venue, we brought programming to the streets hosting live art competitions, music, and performances. We created a sustainable platform for the arts and brought business to local venues even in a pandemic. We continued this work through 2021.

In 2022, we are hoping venues gain the capacity to host artists in their spaces again, and we will are here to help promote and market these events. The streets won’t be closed through the summer this year, but we will be hosting a few events including the Festival of the Honeybee in 2022. Check out our maps page for the events that are happening around Ypsilanti every First Friday. We look forward to seeing you in downtown, depot town, and in the west cross street districts this year!

OUR STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

First Fridays Ypsilanti recognizes the richness of diversity in our community. We aim to see that diversity reflected in our events, artist participation, and leadership. We encourage this by being intentional with our marketing procedures and programming.

First Fridays Ypsilanti will achieve this by:

  • Intentional programming of diverse Ypsilanti artists, performers, and musicians for all First Fridays produced street festivals such as Ypsi Pride, and Festival of the Honey Bee.

  • Lifting and highlighting Black-, POC-, woman-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses in our Ypsilanti Community.

  • Maintaining free and accessible events throughout each season.

  • Expanding our marketing initiatives to reach more community members and neighborhoods.

  • Creating leadership roles filled by diverse voices on event boards and committees.

  • Listening to the communities’ wants and needs, and using that as a driving force of all programming.

  • Creating new, and nurturing current partnerships with area organizations that serve underrepresented communities.

  • Acknowledging Ypsilanti’s rich Black and Native history.

  • Acknowledging that racism exists in our community, and pledging our continued commitment to creating and nurturing a community that condemns institutional and societal racism.

  • Committing to anti-racism, equity, and racial justice as an organization.

  • Acknowledging that this commitment and work is on-going and has no end date.