Although many MSU ?students went home for Easter weekend, some students and alumni made their ?way to the inaugural festival, which took place Friday and Saturday.
With more than 250 craft brews and 100 musicians, ?the festival helped raise funds for the Greater Lansing Food Bank and Xero Waste Events, an organization that provides comprehensive recycling services.
There were many different drinks at the festival, such as craft beers like Oberon by Bell’s Brewery Inc. Ciders, ?meads and wines from craft breweries both local and nationwide were also among the selection.
Tickets were $55 and got attendees five drinks. Additional drinks cost $2.
Advertising senior Taylor Parker appreciated the beer offered at the festival.
“I think they’re all really good,” Parker said of the beer selections. “I like how they incorporated all the local people who brew beer. I definitely enjoyed it.”
The band Dirty Heads headlined Friday night’s festivities at the main tent, and O.A.R. took the main stage on Saturday evening.
The bands played in a tent with a capacity of 4,000 people . The tent is the first of its kind in the United States, according to the festival website.
O.A.R. band member ?Jerry DePizzo said the alternative rock band was looking forward to Saturday’s performance in ?an interview with The State News the week before the show.
The band is known for their song “Love and Memories.”
During the concert, the band played their new single, “Peace.”
“We’re really keyed up ?for the tour and excited about playing a damn good show and playing ‘Peace’ and ?seeing the response,” DePizzo said. “We’re excited ?to see a whole crowd of beer-loving partygoers.”
Hospitality business senior Ali Foote was excited to listen to O.A.R.
She also enjoyed the atmosphere of the festival and thought it was great that people were coming out to support downtown Lansing.
“I like to support Lansing events, I like to support Michigan beers and ?Michigan food and good bands,” she said. “I know a lot ?of people come for the music (and) a lot of people come for the beer and it was cool to be able to come for both.”
The next microbrew ?festival will be held in ?Traverse City on August 22-23.
Staff reporter Casey ?Holland contributed to t his report.
