Lansing - As the rain fell Tuesday morning, many worried that the third annual Common Ground Festival would be washed out, but Mother Nature came through in the end.
With the festival set to kick off in less than two hours, the rain stopped and the sun shone through.
“I’m really happy the weather brightened up, something knew this was going to be a wonderful day,” volunteer Kathryn Reed said. “This place is crazy, people are all over doing all types of stuff.”
Eighties metal great Skid Row kicked off the festivities at the West Main Stage in Adado Riverfront Park. As the crowds crossed over the Shiawassee Bridge to make their way to the stage area where they were greeted by roaring guitars and booming drums.
From the moment Skid Row took the stage at 5:45 p.m. until George Thorogood & The Destroyers closed the party at 11 p.m., music filled the air.
Jackyl, Vince Neil, Tesla and Little Feat all graced the crowd with heavy metal chops in the “Rock Never Stops” show.
Lansing resident Heather Daton said the weather could have spoiled her six-day festival pass but, thankfully, the sky cleared and she enjoyed the sun and music.
“A few good friends of mine purchased me a ticket,” Daton said. “They got it for me because my mother died in May and they knew this would make me happy.”
She said she plans to leave the tears at home and enjoy her Common Ground experience in good spirits.
Music and sun weren’t the only attractions, as the crowds enjoyed the giant Ferris wheel, playground and vendors. The festival runs through Sunday with craft shows and late-night parties highlighting the following days.
One of the more popular events was the Hole in One shot. Participants stood on the riverbanks with one shot to attempt to sink a golf ball in a hole on the other side of the river.
A winning shot earns the participant $25,000, but each player is only allowed one shot per day.
Lansing resident Marty Agala has attended the festival every year and said this year’s adjustment to the musical lineup was a good move.
“This year they have a more diverse lineup of music, because before they didn’t,” she said.
But Agala said she thought the lineup did feature too many hard rock artists who use “inappropriate language.”
“I brought my granddaughters and I don’t like them hearing that stuff,” she said. “But on the bright side I get to see Earth, Wind & Fire and Smokey Robinson.”
Following last year’s lead, co-director Pete Sullivan again hired people to hand out surveys to random festivalgoers for feedback. Among those handing out surveys was Vince Corcorah.
“They do it because they want to know what the community thinks,” Corcorah said. “This is the second year they’re doing this.”
The largest complaint was the long lines to get tickets for food and drinks. In order to help the vendors, festivalgoers must first purchase tickets before using them to purchase food and drinks.
Lansing resident Marsha Watson said the lines were discouraging.
“I wanted to bring some fruit with me, but they won’t let you bring your own food,” she said.
Common Ground spokeswoman Malinda Larson said the tickets are used so the vendors don’t have to handle money.
“People just have to get used to the festival systems,” she said. “Then they’ll understand how things work because our vendors love this method.”
Regardless of the hassle, the festival was packed with people like Battle Creek resident Murray Commons.
“I came especially to see George Thorogood,” Commons said. “I happen to be a big fan of his. Whenever there is an artist I like, I go.”
Tanee Elston can be reached at elstonta@msu.edu.
