LANSING- For the record, downtown Lansing's inaugural Common Ground Festival will enjoy good weather all week.
That's the word from Raul Alvarez, who's in charge with the duty of educating the public on what to expect when the family fest kicks off Tuesday in Adado Riverfront Park.
"Officially, we were told to expect great weather," he said, and it's a good thing, considering what's in the works. Common Ground covers a lot, of well, ground in entertaining its audience.
Nightly concerts boasts of the Doobie Brothers, The Verve Pipe, Charlie Daniels, the Beach Boys, Joe Walsh, Third Eye Blind, and more. "It's our way of getting people really excited," Alvarez explained. "We brought in as many different styles as we could, to get something for everyone."
While the national acts anchor the main stage-Ground Zero-local and regional favorites are the staples on the second stage-Ground Effects-and local/side stage-The Underground.
Then there is Ground Assault, running Friday through Sunday, July 21-23, along the parks east bank and featuring extreme sports such as the Velcro Wall, Bouncy Boxing, Gladiator Joust, Bungee Run, Rock Climbing Wall and more.
Younger visitors can head for the Play Ground for Rockin' Scooby Doo, Balloon Typhoon, Sandbox Dig, Racing Challenge, a Spandex maze and more.
Festival hours run from 5p.m. to 11p.m. Tuesday through July 20 on the park's west bank only, and from 11a.m. to 11p.m. July 21-23 on the east and west bank. The Play Ground closes at 9p.m. nightly.
Admission follows the Disney approach, Alvarez said, with one price including everything but food and beverages. Individual admissions are $20 for Tuesday and July 21-23, and $15 for Wednesday and July 20.
A six-day pass-the Common Card-is available for $60, and purchasers can share it, Alvarez said. Maybe the parents would use the pass one night, he said, and the children would come another time to catch their favorites.
Children 10 and younger are admitted free at all times, when accompanied by an adult.
Also, early birds who arrive between 11a.m. and 2p.m on July 21-23 can use a coupon available at Meijer stores in Lansing and Mason and pay only $8 at the gate.
The park holds 12,000 to 14,000 festival-goers, he said, and when that capacity is reached, ticket sales will end. Advance sales are available by calling (517) 267-1502 or online at commongroundfest.com.
While comparisons with the now-defunct Michigan Festival sponsored by Michigan State University are inevitable, there are differences, said Alvarez, who has worked for both.
"Common Ground has targeted the teen audience as well as adults and children," he said. "That was something we never achieved with the Michigan Festival. "We will also have a wider variety of food available, from Mediterranean to Mexican."
Common Cents coupons, sold for 50 cents each, is the currency for food and beverages. Common Knowledge is the program that will spell out all that is available to festival-goers each day. And then there is good ol' common sense- the shows are general admission and it pays to come early and stake out a spot for your blanket or lawn chairs.
"This idea has been around for a while, creating a major signature event that would play off the state capitol," Alvarez said of the event sponsored by the city of Lansing, General Motors Corp. and Meridian Entertainment.
"Our template was the Muskegon Summer Celebration, and in coming years, we hope to incorporate even more of Lansing's downtown area in the festivities. It's all about community, and I know that sounds warm and fuzzy but it's true."
The word is out, with calls coming from around the state as people try to sort through the activities.
"Our challenge this year is to literally educate people," he said. "I'll explain the admission and then they want to know how much money they should bring to play the extreme sports or go to the concert.
"They're free. Once you're in, it's all free. You can do as much as you want, how many times you want. Just come and have fun."