With more than 10 events organized by the Holy Bones group in 2024 alone, Ypsilanti residents with a taste for horror have gotten the chance to peruse dozens of unique artisans, locally.
Founded in 2019, the Holy Bones Festival and Events group set out to create a space for artists who otherwise might not be able to sell their products at art festivals. Since its creation, the group has grown to host a number of events each year, including its original: Holy Bones, the Halloween art-fair bearing the organization's name.
Holy Bones’ started with 40 vendors, and has seen a number of changes and improvements over the years. Although a handful of individuals were involved in its creation, Holly Bones was its original developer.
“Pretty quickly, we outgrew our own venue, and started having to restructure the event.” Said Bones. While patrons pay a small admission at the door, the revenue from each attendee’s ticket is donated to the Ypsilanti Performance space in Depot Town.
“It used to function as a church, but over the years, it eventually was renovated into an event venue," Holly Bones organizer, Holly Bones said. "For our Halloween event, it’s where we host our drag shows. Still, it’s constantly in need of further renovation, so the money made from ticketing attendees keeps its doors open.”
While Holy Bones’ Halloween event is the only one featuring an optional drag show, hosted by the Ypsilanti "Hoe Show,” the group's dedication to creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community remains a highlight year-round.
“That’s one thing we focus on,” Bones said. “We welcome queer voices, and we’re passionate about the diversity amongst our vendors. That’s something I saw lacking in other art fairs.”
Some of the vendors feature or focus on queer-related art pieces, while others use LGBTQ+ pop-culture as an influence for their creations.
“Our events have really evolved since 2019, and the options we have for buyers have a lot more variety. In 2021, we introduced Krampus to our lineup," Bones said.
Krampusmrkt, hosted in early December, takes the typical holiday festivities and gives them a creepy spin. Krampus himself is a character in folklore who, according to legend, takes away bad children before Christmastime. The market was scheduled for Dec. 6-7 at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse in Depot Town.
However, Krampusmrkt isn’t the only holiday-horror event offered by Holy Bones. Memento Merry, advertised as a "dark holiday artisan market" targets those last-minute Christmas shoppers looking for something different. The name is a spin on the phrase memento mori, which represents death and its inevitability for everyone. Memento Merry is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Freighthouse and will feature 50 different artisans.
Those attending these markets can expect a variety of fun in addition to the vendors.
“One thing we’ll have is the amazing Black Ichor coffee company making free pour-overs, and it’s to die for," Bones said.
While similar artists appear at each event, Holy Bones promises fresh new products for consistent attendees.
"We like to encourage our artists to try new themes and to challenge themselves by thinking outside the box of their typical creations," Bones said.
The group Holy Bones also sponsors the Memento Merry artisans' market, featured in this advertisement, scheduled for Dec. 15, 2025, at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. (Courtesy of Holy Bones)
Memento Merry will be Holy Bones’ final event of the year, but the lineup is just as large for 2025.
“These artists are so talented and wonderful. It’s such a welcoming environment and it's because we have such a beautiful collection of artisans. I love working with them. Plus, this would not be possible without the city allowing artisan markets to use the space," Bones said.
The group also depends on volunteers to keep the events running. Those interested in volunteering or signing up for Holy Bones’ email list can find links for both on the Holy Bones website or on the group's Facebook page.
For those interested in shopping from local artists for the holiday season, but aren’t fans of horror, Holly Bones recommends Angela Scott’s holiday artisan market, also held at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse on Dec. 21-22. Shops will stay open both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
