Ann Arbor Summer Festival executive director Mike Michelon
Credit Ann Arbor Summer Festival / a2sf.org
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) announces a mix of new, in-person, and digital events that kick off on June 11. A2SF’s season anchor this year is a pop-up concert series
Live Here Now presented by Toyota and will take place in public parks and spaces throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. A2SF is engaging a diverse group of community partners throughout the two cities and presenting many in partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) this summer.
In-person events include
Blandford Nature Center: Winning Syrup & Live Music Returns
Some great news from the Blandford Nature Center Facebook page recently: Their syrup has come in #1 in a contest and live music returns this summer.
First, the great syrup! Blandford Nature Center won the 2021 Alpine Historical Commission s annual Maple Syrup Contest! This contest was held in mid-April. Syrup from six producers in the West Michigan area took part. Check out the video of the contest here. If you haven t had any of their award winning syrup yet, it looks like there is still some available in their online gift shop, but quantities are low. There is nothing better than a stack of pancakes with some great maple syrup cascading over the top and down the sides, to the reservoir of syrup pooling on your plate!
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Courtesy Studio C
The piazza at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids will be the site of Studio C’s summertime outdoor programming beginning in June.
The events include movies, music and fitness activities, hosted by Celebration Cinema, Listening Room, Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse, and GR Sport and Social Club.
“This is more than a 2020 reprise,” said Quinn Matthews, manager of Listening Room and piazza events. “This was always the vision. There will be events and activities taking place multiple times a day, most days of the week. Studio Park’s piazza was designed for activation with a state-of-the-art sound system, digital screen and direct service of food and beverage from 123 Tavern’s outdoor bar. Last year pushed things along and brought focus to outdoor events, Thankfully, this space was ready. We have some strange yet sweet memories of opportunities it provided to gather during a hard year.”
Summer concerts set for return to Meijer Gardens
John Sinkevics
Summer concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are back.
After a silent summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meijer Gardens has announced the resumption of outdoor live music starting in July, with three different series of shows:
National touring acts and the Grand Rapids Symphony in the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series, local artists performing for Tuesday Evening Music Club, and “Sunday Strings” sessions held throughout the gardens.
O.A.R., Kansas, The Verve Pipe, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Black Violin with the Blind Boys of Alabama are on the docket for the national series which kicks off July 1, with specific show dates, more artists and the on-sale date for tickets still to be announced.