Elvis impersonators and tribute performers have been flocking to Ypsilanti, Michigan for Elvisfest in mid-July since 2000. The king lives on in this two-day, weekend concert festival. Pay your own tribute to Elvis in a candlelight vigil, see Elvis hits performed throughout the span of his career. Catch Grammy award winning Elvis gospel hits during the gospel hour. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and trophies are awarded to children Elvis costume contest winners. The festival has raffles, Elvis memorabilia vendors and a vintage car show.
mielvisfest.org
The Common Ground is a seven-day music festival in downtown Lansing, Mich., held in mid-July. The capital city music lineup often pulls in national headlining rock, pop and alternative acts as well as acoustic, classical, jazz, country performers and more. The Common Ground attracts a huge variety of food and merchandise vendors, and has play areas for children. The music festival has the stage and equipment setup normally found at a large music venue.
commongroundfest.com
The Woodtick Music Festival is in its 17th year. The festival is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula about 25 miles west of Escanaba, between Powers and Hermansville. The two-day festival in late July features local, regional and national bluegrass, rock, country and blues music. Festival goers enjoy pasties, a local dish unique to Upper Michigan that is similar to a meat pie, as well as Native American wares such as dream catchers available at vendor booths. The family-oriented festival has a family-fun park setup with kids games, a ball pit and inflatable bouncy toys.
woodtickfestival.com
Riverfolk Festival is held in Manchester, in mid-Michigan between Ann Arbor and Jackson. Riverfolk has an eclectic variety of music including Cajun, jazz, Celtic, rockabilly, folk, acoustic and bluegrass. Jam Camp is three days of jam sessions between professionals and amateurs alike in Manchester's downtown park, prior to the festival. Enter your own song in the song writing contest or take the stage in the fiddle contest to win a prize. There is a food tent manned by a local chef.
riverfolkfestival.org
Approximately 750,000 people head to downtown Detroit every year on Labor Day weekend for the Detroit Jazz Fest. The festival spreads over a 2 million square feet of downtown Detroit with up to six stages of jazz, gospel, blues and R&B music. Festival goers can watch jam sessions, visit music education tents and hear jazz historians and musicians give presentations about music. The family-friendly event has a Kid Bop tent with storytellers and music for children.
detroitjazzfest.com
Arts Beats Eats, in the Detroit metro area, is a celebration of art, music and food over Labor Day weekend. Multiple stages cater to R&B, rock, jazz, classical and alternative music fans. Food fare includes local specialties out of Greektown, open barbecue pits, Coney Island hot dogs and soul food. See sculpture, paintings, cloth crafts, photography, wood and metal art pieces at the art fair produced by both local and international artisans.
artsbeatseats.com