Muskegon Summer Celebration Set To Return in 2011.

The Muskegon Summer Celebration, The BIG Party, will return for its 19th year July 1 – 4 and July 6 – 9 in 2011. After experiencing one of the toughest financial years in festival history, the Summer Celebration launched efforts last fall to return in 2011. Potential solutions were studied and festival staff conducted two surveys to determine the right direction for the event. Thanks to a loan agreement with the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and a generous gift from the Linne Lodge 57 of the International Order of Vikings as well as support from other businesses including RC Productions and J.A.A.R. Partnership, and community supporter, Roger Eikenberry, the festival can continue. “Obviously we are glad to be back,” explained Board Chair, Bryon Mazade. “The economy has played havoc on festivals and special events throughout the Country. Summer Celebration is too important to the community for it to be discontinued, and we are grateful to our financial supporters.”

The 2011 event will begin on Friday, July 1, and run through Monday, July 4. The festival will take a break on Tuesday, July 5, but will return Wednesday, July 6 and run through Saturday, July 9. “This shortens the event to eight days while still running on both weekends,” commented Joe Austin, Executive Director. “Many of our patrons feel the 11-day event was just too long, and having a day off in the middle of the event gives everyone including patrons and volunteers a breather.” Milwaukee’s Summerfest is opting for a similar plan this year as they will be closed on Monday, July 4.

There will be eight nights of Main Stage Headliners in 2011. Festival fans can look forward to nationally recognized acts on the Main Stage with a renewed focus on the concert experience. While no commitment is being made to add a big act to the line-up, the Board is open to the idea if the right financial arrangements can be made. Last year Summer Celebration brought in Country Superstar, Toby Keith. Many suggestions were submitted in the surveys, and there is a short list of target artists the Board will be pursuing.

One of the most popular events in the history of Summer Celebration and its predecessors, the Artisan Weekend, will be back July 1, 2 & 3. Art in the Park in Hackley Park, The Village Craft Market, Michigan Marketplace, and Village Food Court all return with few if any changes. This event has provided a financial boost every year to the overall event, and has drawn patrons from all over Michigan and beyond.

Other events returning include the Fireworks on July 4, the Tiki Stage in the Main Concert Venue, special family entertainment in the midway, a revamped entertainment venue in the parking lot behind the Main Stage, and the Senior Social.

While many Summer Celebration events will return in 2011, there are a few that will be excluded from this year’s schedule. The Air Show which debuted last year will not return. Without enough sponsorship commitment for the event, it was not financially feasible. In addition the two surveys showed that only about one third of the public would actually pay to see the show on Heritage Landing, with another third indicating they would watch the show for free outside of Heritage Landing, and remainder had no interest in the show at all.

The Parade is another casualty as well. The parade expense in 2010 was $15,000 with only $6000 covered by sponsorships. “We can no longer afford to run events at a loss,” said Treasurer Larry Cooper. “If events cannot show at least a break-even point, we have to look for other events and activities.”

Pricing for the Main Stage concerts will be announced in the coming weeks. Base prices (exclusive of any potential “big act”) will be lower for both the event-long passes and single tickets. Also, plans for a special Fourth of July promotion will be announced in the near future. Other details of the event will be publicized in the coming weeks along with prices for single day and event-long passes. If a big act is secured there will be a seven and eight day pass available.
Please visit http://www.summercelebration.com/ for more.