A2Y Chamber Event: Taste & Shop in Ypsilanti — Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025
The 14th annual YpsiTasty Grub Crawl or Shop Local event comes to town on Tuesday.
Students who want to experience Ypsilanti through its food and historic zones, or just to support local businesses, can get a little taste of everything in one evening. The event runs from 4 to 8 p.m.
Vendors will operate in three areas: downtown Ypsilanti, Depot Town and Cross Street. A list of participating restaurants and shops is updated regularly on the A2Y website. Among the vendors are Insomnia Cookies, Plant-Based Coneys, Bitter Truth BBQ, Earthen Jar, Tap Room and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op.
Live music will be provided by the Flaunt Love Trio with Dan DahSoulman Carter.
Participants who are interested in traveling from one zone to another can use the Golden Limousine Trolley, which will be operating all evening, transporting participants from one area to the other areas.
Ticket prices are $25, or $15 for students. Tickets for children ages 6-15 are $10. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Each ticket includes the ability to taste options at multiple vendors.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the A2Y website.
Ypsi Fine Arts Club — Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025
The Riverside’s Ypsi Fine Art Club welcomes the public to visit or participate in its next exhibit night gathering, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Artists, art lovers and people of the community are welcome to join and see the artworks displayed.
The gatherings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Riverside Art Center, 76 North Huron in Ypsilanti.
Artists who are interested can present up to two of their original artworks during the event.
Freak Fest — Friday to Sunday, Oct. 3-5, 2025
Dance and music lovers can join three days and nights of live bands as the weekend event known as Freak Fest takes over Ypsilanti.
Wyrd Byrd Ypsi, Ziggy’s and other music venues plan to host multiple performances in different downtown Ypsilanti locations.
Among the Freak Fest events by day, are:
Friday
On Friday Oct. 3, the outdoor portion of the event will be along South Washington Street from 4 to 10 p.m. Participation is free. The performance itinerary for the night includes a D.J. and vendors.
- 5 to 5:30 p.m.: Laserbeams of Boredom
- 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.: Izak
- 6:30 to 7 p.m.: Modus Operandi
- 7:15 to 7:45 p.m.: Cattywampus
- 8 to 8:30 p.m.: Saga
- 8:45 to 9:15 p.m.: CAD & The Peacetime Consumers
- 9:30 to 10 p.m.: Sonic Smut
Also on Friday, the event includes live music at Ziggy's, starting at 7 p.m., and with a $15 admission fee. Performers include the Seahag, Take Your Meds, Rawhide Girlfight and more.
Saturday
The party moves to Riverside Park on Saturday, with the entertainment starting at 2 p.m. and lasting until 7 p.m. Participation is free. Music and shows will be provided by the Twin Freaks, The Defiance Campaign, the Tongue, the Detroit Party Marching Band Parade and others.
At Ziggy's, with a $15 admission, Freak Fest participants can listen to:
- 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.: B-Plot
- 8:30 to 9:15 p.m.: Geranium Red
- 9:30 to 10:15 p.m.: Candor
- 10:30 to 11:15 p.m.: Truman
- 11:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.: A Grim Existence
- 12:30 to 1:15 a.m.: The Boy Detective
Sunday
At the Hyperion Coffee Co. in Ypsilanti, starting at 3 p.m., Freak Fest participants can catch performances from Vanessa Haley-Elizabeth, Zack Jay, Jim Cherewick and Dollie Rot. Participation is free.
At the Wyrd Byrd, the performances include:
- 5:15 to 5:45 p.m.: Mallory Wayt
- 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.: marto.matic
- 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.: Talented Asian Girlfriend
- 7:30 to 8 p.m.: Skinned Knees
For more information, visit the Freak Fest Facebook page.
Trash Talk Tour 5th Annual Celebration: Volunteering Opportunities — Friday to Sunday, Oct. 3-5, 2025
ZeroWaste.Org, based in Ann Arbor, and the Washtenaw Zero Waste Coalition are hosting their fifth annual 3T or Trash Talk Tour from Friday to Sunday and are looking for volunteers.
The two sustainability organizations create opportunities for people to gather and act to protect the globe. The weekend kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday with a community cleanup at the University of Michigan central campus. The next tour stops include a clothing swap at the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace at 9 a.m. Saturday, a tour of Recycle Ann Arbor's operations at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, a Gleaning Food Rescue Event at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Green Things Farm Collective and the Zero Waste Fall Festival at the Kiwanis Thrift Sale starting at noon Sunday.
For more options on the tour, visit the Trash Talk Tour website.
Volunteers will assist with welcoming participants, organizing activities and ensuring the event goes to plan. Students and anyone who are interested in volunteering need to sign up for a role in a specific spot.
For more information, see registration information online or contact Lydia McMullen-Laird through the same page link or through the Zero Waste organization website
Editor's note: Have an item for What's the Move? Send it to calendar@easternecho.com.
