Michigan’s Arts Beats & Eats Festival Has Been Cancelled

One of the biggest festivals held annually in Michigan featuring local and national talent, food and art has been added to the list of festivals and events to cancel for the 2020 season. It shouldn't come as surprise that all major festivals and gatherings will be non-existent until there is a vaccine available. The annual summer festival held in Royal Oak, MI recently made the announcement on their Facebook stating:

Hey Fans, Big News Today. Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County’s Favorite Summer Festival Celebrating Art, Music, Cuisine & Community is officially canceled for 2020 due to health concerns and restrictions on large scale events by the State of Michigan. While the festival has been canceled, virtual and small-scale live activation will take its place to spread a little bit of art, music, food and health, including a major effort to support the local music industry. The featured component of the 2020 event reincarnation will be “The Beats Go On…” which seeks to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local musicians, as well as spread the joy of music virtually and through limited capacity drive-in concerts during Labor Day Weekend.

The beat indeed goes on, as many local events are being turned into virtual events lieu of the regularly scheduled shows. Although Kalamazoo Ribfest was cancelled, you can still support our longtime partners of Ribfest, The Arc Community Advocates, by purchasing a Virtual Kalamazoo Ribfest shirt here. Until next year, let's hope we see some big changes so events can return in 2021.