WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Rob Hess’ favorite part of owning a downtown Ypsilanti business for the last three years has been building connections in the community with the help of ice cream.

That’s why Go! Ice Cream, 10 N. Washington St., hosts an annual community talent show, set for Friday, Jan. 24. Customers can show off their talents or watch the show from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sign-up is open until 4:30 p.m. the day of the show.

Ypsilanti’s Go! Ice Cream was born out of Hess’ realization that he liked to cook as a stress reliever. He soon ventured into ice cream sales at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market. He recalls being 40 years old, selling ice cream on a tricycle, and being a hit with customers.

By 2016, Downtown Ypsilanti’s Go! Ice Cream neared its grand opening

“Absolutely everybody is welcome to perform,” said Hess about the Go! Ice Cream Free Community Talent Show Fundraiser & Flavor Debut. “Everybody that performs gets a treat.”

Performances range from singing and dancing to spoken-word poetry, Hess said.

“I saw the opportunity to give our community a microphone and a place to perform and surround them with other people who are going to be appreciative of what they do,” Hess said. “Everybody is good at something – sometimes you just need a safe, supportive space to explore that.”

The Moving Village, a local community group focused on art, is showcasing break-dancing at the show.

Until Jan. 22, customers can suggest a dream ice cream flavor, one of which will be chosen and debuted at the show. Suggestions will earn a free topping. The contest winner will be given a free ice cream pie when the new flavor is announced.

So far, Hess said “a lot of folks seem to want to have alcohol in their ice cream.”

He prefers suggestions that have a good story attached to them.

Go! Ice Cream is open from noon to 9 p.m. every day.