The Great Lakes Folk Festival can't be labeled anything other than good. It brings world folk culture to Mid-Michigan. As a college town, East Lansing is diverse with international culture. A folk festival pushes people to really get to know more about the international culture that surrounds them.
Folk music from anywhere brings with it a story-telling aspect, and those stories introduce us to the universal humanity of the people in each culture represented by the festival. The festival could stop at letting people just look and listen, but instead it encourages people to learn about, participate in and try the foods of those cultures, if only for a couple days.
The economic impact the summer festivals have at East Lansing's stores and restaurants are undeniable. Over the coming years, the festivals will likely grow to a point where those around the state will make annual pilgrimages to enjoy the festivals. Also, it's good to see the East Lansing city government sponsoring festivals likely to bridge the gap between permanent residents and the students just moving through.
If anything, there aren't enough festivals - we'd like to see a lot more. They're a fantastic way to build bonds in the community and fuel the local economy - they should be held during MSU's fall and spring semesters to draw the maximum amount of students possible.
It could be that past riots have made the municipal government weary of encouraging students to come out en masse, but nothing has ever gone violently wrong when the East Lansing Film Festival is held on campus during the school year. What a potent and sublime move establishing more festivals would be - likely only good would come of it.
The film festival proves that a city festival doesn't need to be outside and with live musical acts to draw a crowd. It could feature anything - food can be served indoors to much the same effect. True, while the fall's football weekends more than fill gaps in East Lansing's economy, annual festivals in the spring could push tourism to unknown heights.
The ideal festival should strive to enlighten, educate and culture as many citizens as it possibly can. Scheduling more when the bulk of students are in town just makes sense. The municipal government should give students and residents more culture throughout the year - we can handle it.
Festivals could be used to highlight local industry, getting students used to local goods and services. It could have a spring theme, and be multi-faceted with various different kinds of exotic foods and music.
The point would be to get more people to fall in love with the city. Give them the best, showcase everything the city has to offer and get the people who otherwise would stay at home or in their dorm rooms outside.
Making East Lansing a cultural haven or art hot spot might just replace and supersede any advantage that could have been gained under Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Cool Cities project.
East Lansing can dust itself off and show the Capitol what a cool city should and can be. It's within our power, and just barely out of our grasp.
If more festivals could unite, entertain and educate the population and help the city's economy, then it must be so.
