NORTHVILLIANS,
Welcome to the Heritage Festival time of year in Northville! Traditionally, the City of Northville would host the Heritage Festival this coming week (historically called the Victorian Festival).
Heritage Festival Week
| Northville has more Victorian-era structures still on the National Register than almost any other Michigan Community. It’s part of our heritage & DNA of the community, and we celebrate this through our Heritage Festival days.The Festival will crescendo as we near our Bicentennial as a community in 2027. The future of this annual event could grow into many activities – Historic walks, autonomous shuttle tours, Model T tours along with horse and buggy rides, Historic River walk tours, & village workshops activities. Lots of action to attract thousands of visitors, if we work hard and make it happen.Notably, our Centennial celebration in 1927 included the largest parade up to that time in all of Michigan.The Victorian era is generally accepted as the period of British history encompassing Queen Victoria’s reign 1837-1901.Northville Victorian Festival Highlights of the Past 1989 – The 1st year featured an escape from Houdini’s straight jacket at the Town Square Bandshell, a Victorian Wedding at the Mill Race, a parade, Historic District Tours and a Heritage Costume Ball. 1990 – A tornado ripped through Novi, The Great Wallendas performed a high wire act, third graders took historic tours by trolley car and the curriculum was established for local history education at the Mill Race, Dr. Rudy Randolph’s medicine wagon arrived, and the parade marched on. 1991 – The third year attracted almost 10,000 visitors. We saw the first Mill Race Duck Race, a Victorian Hat Contest, and $11K was raised for local charities. 1992 – Michelle Kelly won the Queen Victoria Contest, Pete the Monkey gave kisses, there was a Pie-eating contest and free carriage rides augmented the parade. 1995 – The Northville-Novi Branch of the AAUW debuted the Historic Home Tour. 1998 – Attendance builds to 40,000 (and increases to 80,000 in 2000). 2001 (Post 9/11) – The Festival begins with a moment of silence, the Parade included bagpipers, patriotic music and Ford Field was rededicated. 2002 – Mill Race hosted a Victorian-style game of Cricket. 2003 – The Community Center was dedicated as a Senior Center, and the Eclipse Baseball team played at Ford Field in replica uniforms with Victorian rules. 2005 – A Victorian Saloon opened on the upper level of the Cady Street deck. 2013 – Activities highlighted the Gold Rush theme and we dined at a Food Truck Rally and Beer Garden. 2014 – The Festival took on a Lumbering Era theme and the Tour De Ville bike event launched. 2016 – The name was changed from Victorian to “Heritage Festival.” Thank you for taking time to learn a little bit about Northville’s past. I believe knowing our past is crucial to planning our future together. I fully encourage you to learn more about our community’s rich history, either at the Mill Race Village or at the Library, and take time to appreciate its Victorian heritage as you stroll through the historic neighborhoods and downtown. I thank you for your kindness, compassion & love for your community through this Pandemic period. |
| Keep that Northville faith & stay #NORTHVILLESTRONG! |
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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