NORTHVILLIANS,

It is that time of the year when festivals are abounding.  Appropriately, we are very excited in Northville to be host for the 12^th annual BUY MICHIGAN NOW Festival coming up this weekend. The following week, the Northville Food & Wine Festival will invade our town at Ford Field. These festivals along with other local activities will add even more excitement to our downtown social district in August.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF “MADE LOCALLY.” As you know by now, our community has been on the forefront of many nationwide products that originated here. In fact, I was inspired to make a list – showing businesses that started here whose products grew into national distribution:

• The Dubuar Manufacturing Company (wood products)
• Items from the Globe Furniture factory specializing in school desks & church benches
• The Valves in Ford engines (ALL U.S. Ford engines)
• Patents for condensed milk from Charles Rogers
• Vanilla from the Northville Laboratories (Jogue Labs today)
• The original Mills in the Michigan Territory
• One of the first Cider Mills in Michigan (Parmenter’s)
• From the 1800’s, Silver Springs water from the Northville well (the original Absopure mineral water of the day).
• Airplanes from the Stinson Aircraft Corporation (examples on display at the Smithsonian)
• AND GET THIS, the Tin Man suit from The Wizard of Oz was actually crafted in our community!

• Update On Downtown Northville Street Closures – Our downtown street closures will continue for the foreseeable future. City Council voted Monday night to maintain the long-term closure of E. Main and N. Center streets. Now the work begins to draw people downtown all 12 months. Together we will make this happen!

• Buy Michigan Festival Now (BMNFEST) Aug. 5-7, downtown Northville
   
• Dancing in the Ville – Town Square, Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:00 PM. Arthur Murray teachers provide lessons for a variety of dance genres (all levels).
   
• Summer Concerts every Friday & Saturday at 7:00 PM – Downtown
   
• Farmers Market – Take in Northville’s Award-Winning Market, Thursdays (7/Sheldon)
   
• Northville Mill Race Village – Open Sundays through August
   
• Music at Maybury on Mondays - 7:00 PM – Enjoy these concerts in August
   
• Food & Wine Festival @ Ford Field August 12-13. Check out link for details – Link
   
• Cars and Coffee Saturday, 8/13, 8-10 AM – Join our monthly gathering (2^nd Saturday) at 212 W. Cady Street, behind Old Village School next to the Library. Bring a car/bring yourself.

Now let's take a look at "Buy Michigan Now" support activities and what's going on in the Ville this weekend...

• Buy Michigan Now is a campaign dedicated to highlighting Michigan-based businesses and positively promoting the state on a local, national, and global level.
   
• Did you know…If every Michigan household shifted just $10 of its weekly expense to Michigan-made products, collectively we would put $38 Million each week back into our local economy? That’s over $1.9 billion per year that we as Michiganders can generate to help support the State.

• BMNFest is the ultimate party to celebrate our state’s annual Buy Michigan Week activities. Small businesses take to our streets to engage with customers and show off what makes their company special.
   
• Food vendors will be scattered throughout the event, and local restaurants offer indoor and outdoor seating in Northville’s social district for those who choose to shop while sampling Michigan specialty food products.
   
• For the young, there is a Kids Zone with games and activities.
   
• Live entertainment from local artists will be non-stop through the weekend.