Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
The Jamboree, held Sept. 4 and 5 in Riverside Park, brought together more than 20 local and regional acts along with local food and beverage vendors, artisans and a children's tent sponsored by Community Records.
Organizers wait for final numbers, look to improve for next year
Sep. 8, 2009 · 7:50 p.m.
Labor Day Weekend may not have been the best weekend to have an outdoor music festival, but organizers of The Jamboree in Ypsilanti said the event was “first-class.”
“I don’t think anyone expected the level of festival they received,” Festival Director Donald Sicheneder said. “I really believe everyone had a great time and nobody left disappointed.”
Approximately 1,500 were in attendance at The Jamboree, held Friday and Saturday in Riverside Park. More than 20 regional acts, highlighting bluegrass, roots, Americana and more, graced the two stages set up in the park while people relaxed on blankets and in chairs and kids ran around the park dancing to the music.
Erik Dotzauer, executive director of the Depot Town Community Development Corporations, which played host to the event, said initial numbers show the festival a couple thousand short of breaking even.
But he said final numbers would come together in a couple weeks when the DTCDC, a non-profit, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Ypsilanti, has its board meeting.
“I think the general inclination is we’re going to do it again next year,” Dotzauer said. “I think one of the keys next year is to go out and get more sponsorships and corporate support.”
Sicheneder said in the time it took to plan the festival, having it on Labor Day Weekend made sense. But he said organizers would most likely consider a different weekend next year.
“I personally like September as a month but I don’t have any specific date in mind,” he said. “We just have to look at a schedule and see what makes sense.”
Ypsilanti resident Amyra Archuleta, who was at The Jamboree Friday said she thought it was a great event for Ypsilanti.
“It was a really great variety of music, it was family friendly, a lot of fun and definitely worth paying $15 to go see it,” Archuleta said.
A big part of The Jamboree’s success was the volunteers according to Sicheneder. With the Children’s Tent, sponsored by Community Records Foundation, food and beer vendors, artisans and those overseeing recycling bins, Sicheneder estimates the festival saw approximately 150 volunteers over the course of the two-day event.
In addition to highlighting Michigan music, The Jamboree also served-up local grub, beer and art.
“Our goal was to make it a Michigan festival,” Sicheneder said.
However, he did say organizers may consider bringing in additional national acts next year to draw a larger crowd, but the overall theme of the festival will remain local.
Adding a camping area to Frog Island Park is another thing Sicheneder said he would like to see next year.
“Giving people a place to set up camp over the weekend would not only be great for people traveling from out of town but it would be great for the businesses in town as well,” he said.
Although there are things organizers say they would like to do differently next year, the overall verdict was The Jamboree was a success.
“I think the vibe of the fest was beautiful; and it was amazing to see it from its inception to where we are today,” Sicheneder said. “It was really a first-class festival.”
Related article:
Two-day music festival marks end of summer
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