Day two of the Common Ground Festival seemed a little laid-back.
That was, of course, unless you were one of the countless people who were swinging a golf club or having a go at a man in a dunk tank.
Bands Kool & the Gang and Journey headlined the night’s festivities, but the Hole-In-One golfing challenge continued to gain popularity.
Perry resident James Nanasty couldn’t stop swinging away as he was determined to win the grand prize, a $30,000 Chevrolet truck donated by Waldecker Chevrolet of Fowlerville.
Contestants could spend $10 every 15 minutes to attempt to win the truck.
“So far I’ve hit eight balls over to the green,” Nanasty said. “But so far I hit the closet to the pin. I think it was 30 inches or something.”
The pin Nanasty was speaking of is located on the opposite side of the Grand River from where the contestants tee off.
Any contestant who sinks the shot will win $25,000, but if nobody nabs the bounty the six closest contestants will get one final shot for the cash at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
The 10 closest contestants will compete for the truck at 7 p.m. Friday during a 30-minute televised event on WLAJ.
For some, luck just wasn’t on their side.
“Well, I hit the ball over the green twice and into the water once,” Holt resident Rudy Lopez said.
“I hit one of the guys in the back of the head with the ball across the river. I don’t think that shot did anything for me.”
But Lopez returned to line for another chance at glory, despite his wife’s laughter.
Michael Wolfston, director of development of the Burcham Hills Foundation and organizer of the 80-yard Hole-In-One event, said the event has been a crowd-pleaser since the festival began.
Wolfston said all the proceeds will be donated to the foundation, which helps to maintain the Burcham Hills Retirement Community.
Others enjoyed soaking Spartan radio personality Duane Vernon in the HOPE, or Helping Other People Excel, scholarship program dunk-tank contest.
“We’re challenging people to dunk me for charity,” WJIM’s “Fans in the stand” and “Spartan Tailgate Show” host said.
“This is the only time a Michigan Fan will ever get a chance to dunk anything on a Spartan.”
Lansing resident Estela Escamilla was one of many who enjoyed giving Vernon a quick dip.
“I play softball a lot so this is easy for me, because I got him on the first try,” Escamilla said. “I attend the festival every year so I look forward to doing stuff like this.”
Escamilla didn’t think twice about dunking the 70-year-old, and Vernon didn’t either.
“It’s great to do things to help your area,” Vernon said.
“Just like this festival, it brings a lot of people out to Lansing. Because Lansing is a great place to do things with a solid community.”
While everyone seemed to enjoy the many festivities, it was still bands like Kool & the Gang that drew the biggest crowds at the festival.
“I love that band, that’s the only reason I came out,” Lansing resident Laquita Patterson said. “But since this is my first time I’m going to hang out because I like the atmosphere.”
Common Ground runs through Sunday.
Earth Wind & Fire, Smokey Robinson and The Calling are among the acts that are set to perform this weekend.
Tanee Elston can be reached at elstonta@msu.edu.
