Arts, Beats, Eats 2010

Giant turkey legs, high end art that makes you tilt your head, and all sorts of music from country to R&B to rock fill the air as hundreds of people walk by. Where am I? Arts, Beats, and Eats 2010 in Royal Oak, Michigan, of course!

This year was the first year Arts, Beats, and Eats was in Royal Oak. Previously, this festival had been located in Pontiac. The Arts, Beats, and Eats festival always takes place Labor Day Weekend.

First, the arts. I saw many unique pieces of artwork. One lady made all sorts of displays with bird feathers. Another man made beautiful wooden toy trains by hand. There were artists from many categories of art: ceramics, drawing, fabric, leather, glass, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood.

Second, the beats. Nearly anyone could find some kind of music they liked. There were different stages for different genres of music--R&B, rock, blues, classical, jazz, soul, blues, country, alternative, and international. Hearing music all day made you want to dance or at least tap a foot.

Third, the eats--my personal favorite. Just as with the arts and beats, even the pickiest eater could find something to eat. They had giant turkey legs, Arabic food, hamburgers, salsa, ice cream, pizza, Mexican food, and Italian food--just about anything you can imagine. For the food lover, you could sample all sorts of new and exciting foods you never tried.

Even children had something special and just for them at this festival. First, there was a carnival with classic rides and games, like a carousel and the balloon and dart game. Second, there was a kids' stage that featured puppet shows, magic shows, and educational shows.

Another plus of this festival is that you get free stuff! In fact, you could test drive a Ford fiesta (Ford sponsored the festival). Metro PCS gave away glow in the dark necklaces, Citizens Bank gave away free shirts, and local radio stations gave out bags, posters, keychains, and pens.

There were only two downsides: parking and tickets. Parking was hard to find, and once you did find parking, it was expensive! Second, in order to purchase food, you had to purchase tickets. They sold 16 tickets for $10. So let's say you had two tickets left over, you wouldn't be able to buy anything with them unless you bought a whole set of 16 more tickets. Therefore, tickets can get annoying.

The 2010 Arts, Beats, and Eats was very succesful. In fact, I know first hand because I worked at a smoothie stand there. Let me tell you how busy it was! On Saturday, I had to serve a nonstop line from two in the afternoon until nine at night! I am sure my boss was happy! This is definitely a festival you do not want to miss next year! Mark your calendars!