Arts, Beats And Eats: What You Need To Know

ROYAL OAK, MI — After months of planning, the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats festival kicks off on Friday. From hundreds of musical acts to dozens of dining options and more than 100 artists, this year’s event promises to make Labor Day weekend fun for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The party begins at 11 a.m. Friday. Arts, Beats & Eats will run until 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the festival closes on Monday at 9:30 p.m.

Music will be a huge part of Arts, Beats & Eats. With performers on eight stages, acts such as the B-52s, Starship, Dwight Yokam, Jordan Davis, Grand Funk Railroad, the Wallflowers, George Clinton, Jena Irene, Your Generation, Candlebox, 311 and others make it an all-star lineup.

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Royal Oak Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

As for food, Arts, Beats & Eats all the bases are covered. More than 40 Metro Detroit restaurants will provide everything from classic American comfort food like pizza, burgers, and barbeque ribs to options like Chinese, Mexican and Greek. Andiamo, Andre's Louisiana Soul, B. L. Ellis Catering, Bigaloria Wood Fired Cucina, Blue Grill, Bonefish Grill, Boostan Café, Big Mike’s Mexican Grill, and Café Muse are just a few of the scheduled restaurants.

Just about every form of artistic expression will be on display. Besides ceramics, Arts, Beats & Eats will feature drawings and pastels, festival goers will find a variety of colorful fabrics, fiber and leathers. Jewelry, glass, metals, mixed media, and photography are just some of the other items that will be featured.

Artists from across will showcase their work on 7th Street between Lafayette & Washington, Washington between 7th and Lincoln, and Lincoln between Washington and Center, according to the Arts, Beats & Eats website.

The art fair hours are:

• Friday, September 1: 11:00am - 9:00pm
• Saturday, September 2: 11:00am - 9:00pm
• Sunday, September 3: 11:00am - 9:00pmMonday, September 4: 11:00am - 5:00pm

Parking for the festival shouldn’t be as much of a challenge as in years past. A shuttle service has been set up and will be free, but parking at a shuttle lot will cost $10. Royal Oak High School, located north of 13 Mile Road off of Crooks, will serve as the shuttle lot. Shuttles will and run Saturday - Sunday from 10:30am - 12:30am and Monday from 10:30am - 10:30pm.

The shuttle will drop off at Second Street and Washington Avenue by the Post Office in downtown. Visitors can park at one of 11 decks and lots. The cost will be $15. Locations of the lots and structures can be found here.

Visitors will not be allowed to park at Royal Oak parking meters throughout Arts, Beats and Eats. City officials have also warned to not parking in nearby neighborhoods. Tickets will be written, Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue told the Royal Oak Daily Tribune.

Photo by Rick Diamond / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images