I love heading to Plymouth. There’s always something going on and the downtown had a historic vibe. Kellog Park is compact, but a perfect size for being in the middle of the downtown. It’s a perfect place to gather. Congratulations to Plymouth, the WCSX City of The Week! Read on for some Plymouth fun facts and history.
Podunk and Joppa: The Name Origins of Plymouth
Plymouth is an active community with an inviting downtown area. Plymouth locals refer to the downtown as “Old Village,” which is decidedly more charming than the original name of “Podunk.” The north end of town was called “Joppa.” In the finalizing of the community’s name, “Peking” was an early runner, then “LeRoy” became the strongest contender. If that name had already been used (communities much like rock bands had to choose unique names) the second choice was “Plymouth” after historical ties to Plymouth, Massachusetts.
At the time of Plymouth’s naming (1827), the community was not a city, but rather a super township. Plymouth originally included the areas of Canton and Northville. You can find out more about the naming of Plymouth at Plymouthmi.gov.
Two of Plymouth’s biggest events are Art in The Park and The Plymouth Ice Festival. I find ice carving fascinating. These artists use chainsaws on giant blocks of ice and make masterpieces that will only last as long as the temperature stays cold enough. Find out more about these events and other amazing info on Plymouth below.
Plymouth Fun Facts
The Plymouth Ice Festival 2024: February 2nd-4th
The Plymouth Ice Festival is North America’s oldest and largest ice carving festival. Roughly half a million people head to Plymouth yearly to check out the carvings. More than 60 ice carvings will be in Kellog Park and along the sidewalks of downtown Plymouth. They also have tubing and other family-friendly events.
Plymouth fun fact: the first Plymouth Ice Festival was in 1982. Scott Lorenz is the founder.
