There are many joys of summer, from the endless supply of fresh berries to the bottomless ice-cold brews handcrafted for enjoyment under a golden sun.
One pleasure that can easily be overlooked is that one special song that is birthed in the warm glow of summer and will forever trigger those memories as we move through time.
One song that comes to mind as I survey the many events to consider attending this summer is "Summer of Love" from '80s pop act, The B-52s.
As the singers chant, "It's the summer of love, love, love/I'm in love with love, love, love for everyone," I cannot help getting excited because this season of leisure is than more than just a time when we sample the fruits of the vines. It is also a period when live music seems to spring up all around.
And while plenty of legacy summer music events are competing for your attention as they happen all around the state from Bliss Festival (folk and roots) to Movement (electronic) to Hiawatha (bluegrass, old-time, Cajun) to Common Ground (country, classic rock, new rock and r&b), there are right here in our neck of the woods many festivals that cost you practically next-to-nothing to attend and you won't blow a tank of gas trying to get there either.
I am no fool and recognize that as we publish this, it is typically a week when we are more focused on getting the hell out of Dodge than planning any time in the city, so I'll take advantage of your short attention span to say that when you return after your break, here is a list highlighting by the month the many options you have in our region.
Right out of the gate will be the granddaddy of events in Grand Rapids as
Festival for the Arts, now 43 years old, shakes off any signs of a midlife crisis by hosting the city's biggest outdoor arts event of the year. June offers the start of the summer long events like
Blues on the Mall,
GRAM on the Green and
The Diversity Concert Series but also a few one-offs:
Founders' Fest West Michigan Pride Local First Street Party B-93 Birthday Bash June is also packed with plenty of events that focus on community:
Waterfront Film Festival Eastown Bizarre Bazaar Grand River Water Festival July will see the return of summer classics and the debut of the Rothbury Festival replacement:
Muskegon Summer Celebration Taste of Grand Rapids and Barbecue Competiton Electric Forest FestivalAugust will be packed with plenty of entertainment as well, but the one festival all eyes are on will be the arrival of
Rock The Rapids to downtown Grand Rapids after being held for two years out at the Fifth Third Ball Park.
Fittingly, the 2011 season of warmth and music wraps up nicely each year with the appearance of
Celebration on the Grand, a three-day festival complete with fireworks and plenty of music, and a perfect way to end the season.
No matter how you plan your warm weather entertainment this season, these are just a sampling of the many experiences to love about West Michigan, making this the summer of love, love, love.
If you get a chance, please post what event you are most looking forward to attending this summer and why.
The Future Needs All of Us (To Groove Locally)
Tommy Allen
Lifestyle Editor
[email protected]
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