Wine, food, music. No, this isn’t an MSU house party - it’s the third annual Festival of the Sun.
As Mid-Michigan’s largest wine- and food-tasting festival, it features wines from around the world, some Michigan brews and the area’s finest restaurants and caterers.
“This year we have wine from Australia, France, California,” said Linda Sutton, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association. “As for food, we have Great Harvest Bread, Christie’s Bistro, Dusty’s Cellar and the Gnome Sweet Shoppe.”
The festival kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Burchard Park, on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Turner Street in Old Town. Besides getting your fill of food and wine, the festival offers live music.
“I loved the bands and the food,” said Lansing resident Rene Widman, who attended the festival last year. “There was a great energy and everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
Although she is getting married Friday, Widman said she still plans to attend the festival again this year.
Six acts will perform throughout the day in one of two tents along the Grand River. The first act, the Bill Bastian Trio, performs at 2 p.m. and the final act, Root Doctor, closes the festival with its 8:45 p.m. performance. The festival officially wraps up at 10 p.m.
The festival not only acts as a community celebration, but as a fund-raiser for Old Town. All proceeds go to the Old Town Commercial Association.
Old Town raised nearly $50,000 with last year’s festival, and Festival Director Jennifer Ricks expects a similar number this year.
“We are basically an economic restoration program,” she said. “Funds are used to recruit new business in the Old Town district.”
Some of these new businesses include The Temple Club, 500 E. Grand River Ave., and the hair salon Headroom, 106 E. Grand River Ave.
“It was a great summer event,” Widman said. “I thought it was great to do something in Old Town that enticed people to come and see how Old Town is changing and evolving.”
While the festival may seem geared toward adults only, children are welcome to attend. The festival offers a special treat for those who can’t taste the wine.
“It may seem adult oriented, but children are welcome. This year we have a microbrewed pop station especially for the kids, Ricks said.”
In addition to the specialized soda, caricature artist Dennis Preston will be on hand to provide cartoonish fun for all.
A Silent Auction also will be available, offering such items as a golf weekend, a custom-built potting shed and tours of various vineyards and breweries.
With close to 2,000 people expected to attend, the festival is reliant on volunteers to help prepare for the festivities.
“It takes in excess of 225 volunteers to run the festival,” Sutton said. “But Old Town is a well-supported area. We have a good core of volunteers so far, but more are always welcome.”
Volunteers are asked to work three-hour shifts, with jobs including setting up various booths, serving, taking tickets and cleaning up after the event.
Tickets to the festival are $10 and visitors receive a wine glass and two drink tickets. Presale tickets are also available at the Old Town Main Street office, 1216 Turner St.
With wine, live bands, food and more, it’s easy to see why everyone can attend the Festival of the Sun.
“It is really unique with great vendors and wine,” Widman said. “There really is something for everyone.”
