Skeletons

NORTHVILLIANS,

This week we will continue our Fall Series, talking about “The Skeletons are Alive” kickoff party which happened Friday in downtown Northville. Many of the businesses shared that they had their best weekend ever. Streets were certainly alive Friday night with thousands listening to the group Social Bones at the Band Shell and dancers from Center Stage performing in town. Special thanks go out to our premium sponsor Nomi and Northville Den.

To add to the atmosphere, there were even fire jugglers, street performers and family fun activities spread throughout the night. The town’s restaurants and businesses were busy, and the food trucks tried to keep up with demand selling BBQ, Pierogies, Enchiladas, Hot Dogs and much more. The Ghostbusters’ vehicle and all their crew were a big hit as always.

On Saturday, the activities continued with Cemetery Tours at our Historic Oakwood grounds, with actors portraying our founders and our storied history. At the Oakwood Cemetery we have veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and of course, the Civil War… it is one of the oldest cemeteries in Michigan. This event was supportedby The Northville Art House and the Northville Historical Society. Many of the folks who attended walked across the street to check out the History Tree that is carved behind City Hall on Cady. If interested in preservation of this historic burial ground, please attend the next Cemetery restoration meeting… (See Below).

Sunday, events continued at the newly bricked Mill Race Village where docents were on hand assisting those with questions at this walkable history museum of Northville. This Sunday is the last weekend this fall with docents on duty.  Come on down to the Mill Race Village!

Let’s transition to the “Skeletons Are Alive” History…

2011 – According to The Record … For the first time this year, the city itself stepped up its own Halloween decorations. The Northville Downtown Development Authority partnered with Begonia Brothers Mike McDonald (Director of operations and its owners Ann & Peter Bonde), designing multiple skeletons including a skateboarder, and a couple kissing under an umbrella.

2012 – The Dancers from Piazza Dance Company performed the iconic zombie dance Thriller. The event was becoming an annual outdoor public art display that features life sized skeleton decked out in different costumes created by Begonia brothers.

2014 – Skeltons are Alive in Northville continued with more than 100 boney friends inhabiting Northville’s downtown for the month of October.

2015 – The Halloween in the Ville is “Big” according to an article in the Detroit Free Press, noting that over $7.0 Billion was now spent nationally on this holiday. They also highlighted Mike McDonald and the Begonia Brothers’ Skeletons Come Alive activity that the Northville Chamber of Commerce established and continues to manage. McDonald in the article said the idea started about 9 years before when he put skeletons on bicycles at the Begonia Brothers’ entrance and it has taken off from there with people falling in love with them.

2021 – Downtown Northville had close to 125 life-sized skeleton sculptures as part of the event.

2023 – The 12th annual “Skeletons are Alive” launch party in downtown Northville featured free family-friendly fun such as balloon twisters, face painting, a Detroit circus skeleton stilt walker, pumpkin carver, and the Ghostbusters on site.

2024 – Everything from ‘23 was continued for the lucky spooky 13^th annual Skeltons Come Alive event and many more skeletons were added. It was a big night:

• The Pirate Ship with the town clock mast is a big hit.
• The weather couldn’t have been better for the thousands of folks who came to town to listen to Social Bones play, watch the spooky dancers from Center Stage, take photos with the Ghost busters and other skeletons or even watch fire twirlers.
• It was one of the largest single night gatherings I can remember in my 64 years in Northville.

I invite you to slow down for an evening and come downtown in October to shop at our retail stores, have dinner at one of our eateries, admire the 150 Skeletons that have come alive in town or visit the 100 giant spiders on the wall at Town Square. Fall is upon us, and Northville is all about Halloween and October Fest month leading up to it. We will talk more about Halloween in the Ville later in the month… Keep that Northville faith and watch Skeletons Come Alive in downtown Northville today.

Keep that Northville October Fest Faith!

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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