Ann Arbor Summer Festival Opening Day – with audio slide show

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival‘s Top of the Park in downtown Ann Arbor opened Friday with extreme face painting, music performances and severe storms.

The event began at 5 p.m. with face painting by Body Masterpiece and performances by Tokyo Sexwhale and Mucca Pazza. The sky began to turn dark and severe thunderstorms moved in as My Dear Disco took the stage around 9 p.m., bringing the event to an early end. An estimated 3,000 people attended the opening day events.

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival continues through July 11. Click here for a full schedule of events.

(best viewed in 720p full screen)

Click here for a slide show of images
(for caption information, click show info)

People sit in the grass Friday at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Ingalls Mall.

Dominik Trobaugh, 9, of Saline gets his face painted by Leah Reddell of Body Masterpiece from Colorado Friday at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Ingalls Mall.

A young boy lines up with other members of Mucca Pazza Friday at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Ingalls Mall. "Look, he's playing bear-itone" said a member of Mucca Pazza.

Cierra Lichtenbergen, 8, of Massachusetts laughs and dances with her aunt Sarah Wetherby of Ann Arbor as her boyfriend Wayne Kung of Ann Arbor watches Friday at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Ingalls Mall.

Mucca Pazza leads the crowd in singing Friday at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival on the steps of Rackham Auditorium.

Ann Arbor Open hosts annual Ice Cream Social

Ann Arbor Open hosted its annual Ice Cream Social Thursday June 10 from 5:30-8 p.m. Hundreds of people came to enjoy games, prizes, food and face painting. This year, the event had a theme of local natural and organic foods and being environmentally friendly.

The event featured local foods from Hello Faz, Silvio’s, The Brinery, Stucchi’s and more. Reusable water bottles and recyclable utensils were used to keep the event environmentally friendly.

Ann Arbor resident David Klingenberger, owner of The Brinery, made all natural snow cones. Klingenberger had a bottle of traditional snow cone flavoring, which listed dozens of ingredients. A sign on the ice-shaver proudly read his recipe, which contained water, sugar and natural flavoring. The snow cone table was a hit among guests.

Another favorite was Adrian resident Carol Brooks’ kettle corn. Brooks, who has been popping kettle corn at events around Michigan for 25 years, used a 70-year-old kettle transported in her van.

Kids gathered around her tent to watch the popcorn pop and occasionally shoot out of the kettle. “I usually leave the lid on but the kids like to watch it pop. I haven’t lost too many handfuls yet” Brooks said, smiling as she stirred the spattering mix of corn, sugar and oil.

Brooks can also be seen selling snow cones and blueberries (when in season) at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

“Ann Arbor Open is all about community and we wanted to include local food items (this year)” said Volunteer Coordinator Cindi Ruhl. Ruhl was one of several hundred volunteers that made the event possible.

Making the event environmentally friendly was another top priority of Ruhl and the other volunteers. “We recycle as much as we possibly can. At the end of the night, we go through the trash and pick out recyclables” Ruhl said.

All proceeds from the event benefit Ann Arbor Open and special scholarships for students in need.

The annual event will continue with the theme next year.

Click here for a slide show of images
(for caption information, click show info)

Isabella Yates, 7, poses for a photo after getting a cat face paint Thursday at Ann Arbor Open’s annual Ice Cream Social.

Noam Rabinovitz, 4, exits an inflatable tube Thursday at Ann Arbor Open’s annual Ice Cream Social. “It was fun!” Rabinovitz said, then quickly returning to the entrance for another run through the tube.

A strawberry snow cone is made Thursday at Ann Arbor Open’s annual Ice Cream Social. The all natural snow cones, provided by The Brinery, were a part of this year’s theme of local natural and organic foods.

Fiona O'Rielly, 9, attempts to run as far as possible while attached to a bungee cord on an inflatable game Thursday at Ann Arbor Open’s annual Ice Cream Social.

Carol Brooks of Adrian makes kettle corn in a 70-year-old kettle Thursday at Ann Arbor Open’s annual Ice Cream Social. Brooks has been popping kettle corn at events around Michigan for 25 years and can be seen selling snow cones and blueberries at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market.