Royal Oak Celebrates Ford Arts, Beats & Eats

Ahh, Labor Day. Every year, I’m filled with bittersweet sentiment as this holiday (symbolic of the end of summer) approaches. Bitter, of course, because this means the awesome summer weather we’ve been enjoying coming to an end but sweet as we look forward to all that Autumn in the Mitten has to offer (fingers crossed for a long, colorful Fall!)

One of the best ways to usher out Summer 2015 is the 18th annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats festival in downtown Royal Oak. Mosey on down to hip-and-happenin’ Royal Oak on Labor Day weekend (Friday, September 5th through Monday, September 7th) for an absolutely awesome amalgam of all things artistic, musical, and delicious from our Mitten’s metro-Detroit area and beyond. Over 365,000 visitors attended the festival in 2014 and event planners have added even more fun for the whole family to enjoy this year.

Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts has partnered with Ford Arts, Beats & Eats to provide two unique and informative experiences for festival-goers: artist demonstrations and DIA Away: Think Like an Artist. With an on-site interactive classroom, children and adults alike can gain insight into the mind of an artist.

Art can be perused or purchased throughout the festival from international, regional, and local artists. A juried fine arts show will also take place over the course of the weekend.

Beats
Ford Arts, Beats & Eats boasts over 200 musical and performance acts on 9 stages, each tailored to a specific entertainment genre. There’s the Michigan National Lottery stage featuring the likes of The Guess Who, Cheap Trick, Neon Trees, Young the Giant, and more, the Cultural and Acoustic Stage, the Bud Light Americana Stage, the Ford Alternative Stage, the Rockstar Performance Pit, The Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Rock Stage, The St. John Providence Health System R&B/Jazz Stage, and the Vibe Credit Union International Stage. The Oakland County Kid’s Stage is devoted to kid-friendly music, magic tricks, promotional–and fun!–health and dental talks, and more! With this many entertainment options, everyone can find something to groove to.

Eats
Ford Arts, Beats & Eats will feature food from the Metro-Detroit area, with everybody’s taste buds in mind. Grab chow from Greek restaurant KouZina, festival food from Mr. B’s Pub, a little something sweet from Treat Dreams, or something else entirely from one of the many other tantalizing options.

Perhaps one of the best facets of Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is its charitable nature. Aimed at being an extremely affordable and entertaining event, the cost of admission is free until 5pm Friday, $3 until 3pm and $5 after 3pm on Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Of the admission fee, .25 goes to the Arts Advocacy, .25 goes to the City of Royal Oak, and “50% of the remaining admission fees to 13 local charities after gating costs.” (artsbeatsandeats.com) With over 4.5 million dollars raised for charities in the Mitten, Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is a festival worth supporting.

If you’re looking for something culturally stimulating, different, or just plain delicious to do this Labor Day weekend, check out Ford Arts, Beats & Eats in downtown Royal Oak. Your imagination (and your tummy) will thank you!

Have you been to the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats? What was your favorite artist? Performer? Let us know in the comments below!