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Ypsilanti Celebrates the Season with a Krampus Costume Ball
From Joel Skene of Ypsilanti
Every winter, children all over get excited for the coming Holiday when Santa will come down the chimney delivering the gifts they have been hoping for. That is, if they have been good. For the bad kids, things get a little more interesting. According to many European mythologies, St. Nicholas has a side kick accompanying him on Christmas Eve to deal with the bad children. His name is Krampus, a demon-like figure who punishes the kids that have been more naughty than nice. This Christmas season, Ypsilanti celebrated Santa’s often forgotten evil partner with a costume ball, midnight parade, and drag show.
When the good people behind the Shadow Art Fair decided to do something different this year, they announced the Krampus Ball to be held at Ypsilanti’s own Corner Brewery, which would make two special “Naughty” and “Nice” brews for the event, involve a costume contest, photo booth, live DJ, and posters for sale. Then the Detroit Party Marching Band would lead a parade from the brewery through Depot Town to the new bar and music venue Woodruff’s, to join the monthly Elbow Deep drag show.
Photos from AnnArbor.com, all rights reserved
From the beginning of the ball there was an aura of excitement and general glee. The vast majority of attendees were in some sort of costume ranging from simple to elaborate and, as people entered the door, the smiles on their faces grew. Krampus wandered the brewery and dance floor armed with chains and something that looked like a cricket stick, punishing all those who seemed a bit too naughty. Corner Brewery’s “Nice” beer was an appropriately nice dark Belgian ale, and the “Naughty” was, well, not so nice. It tasted like feta cheese.
After a few ales, costume watching, and a lot of dancing, the marching band descended on the dance floor to step the party up a notch. I don’t know if you’ve ever participated in a midnight parade through your city, but if you like feeling euphoric, I highly recommend it. We marched through Depot Town which had already been busy that day hosting both Toys for Tats at the Depot Town Tattoo parlour, and D.I.Ypsi at Woodruff’s.
The band and the parade marched into Woodruff’s interrupting Elbow Deep and transforming it instantly into “Krampus Deep.” There, the dancing continued, until the bar closed down with an anthemic sing a long of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” lead by The Ladies from the House of Chanel.
For all the naughtiness, it was a magically nice night. One that we in Ypsilanti will not soon forget.
