iSPY Magazine is excited to announce that the seventh installment of our favorite festival, Mittenfest, will be back at Woodruff’s this year to help raise money and awareness for 826Michigan.

There are only a handful of things to look forward to when spending a Michigan winter in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. The lights that hang on Main St. in downtown Ann Arbor are pretty, sometimes the snow can be fun and there’s usually a good movie or show you can check out. But nothing gets folks more excited than the anticipation and 5 days that are Mittenfest. The lineup is arguably the best in the state for the entire year, showcasing the upper echelon of musical talent from Michigan and throughout the Midwest. If you don’t believe me, just check out the lineup from Mittenfest VI.

This is truly an incredible event for an incredible cause. The focus of 826Michigan is getting kids the bug of writing creatively, early, and letting them know it is fun, and not a bear at all! Founded by author Dave Eggers in San Francisco, there are now chapters in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C. and Ann Arbor/Ypsi. The majority of programming for the local chapter is dedicated to the Ypsilanti Public Schools and Mittenfest is a major fundraiser for them. Over the past 6 years, Mittenfest has raised over $55,000 for 826Michigan and raised $21,290 last year alone.

While the early days were dedicated to pretty much just your donations and ticket sales, the past few years have ignited the interest of big name sponsors including the Detroit Red Wings, Yelp and Pure Michigan. Local favorites like Quite Scientific, VG Kids, the Chelsea Milling Company and yours truly; iSPY Magazine have all played integral parts in sponsoring the event. If you’re a local treasure and believe in what Mittenfest and 826 are doing, we’d highly recommend getting involved early at some level considering all sponsorship levels are still available. They won’t be for long.

Tickets for each day are $10 and sell out every year. You don’t want to be stranded out in the cold trying to wipe the condensation off the windows of Woodruff’s to see what’s happening inside. Be sure to get your tickets early and secure your 5 day pass with guaranteed entry for just $82.60. You’ve been there, you know it’s first come first in, so getting your guarantee in the door is critical in not missing a second of  Michigan’s favorite fundraiser.

Mittenfest VII will take place at Woodruff’s in Depot Town, Ypsilanti from 12.28.12 – 1.1.13. Here’s a couple important Mittenfest links to check out over the next few months:

Website: mittenfest.org

Facebook: facebook.com/mittenfest

Twitter: twitter.com/mittenfest  (Join the convo for Mittenfest VII by using the official hashtag #mfvii)