As the third Common Ground Festival gears up for opening night at Lansing’s Adado Riverfront Park, the buzz is spinning like a disco ball with national artists coming to rock Mid-Michigan.
Eighties metal-band Skid Row kicks off the festival at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Common Ground runs through Sunday.
Along with a wide array of tunes, entertainment seekers can look to the Crafter’s Crossroads, Ground Assault extreme sports bar and a playground to pass the time.
Skid Row guitarist Snake said the band plans to kick things off right. He said the group will play music from its upcoming album, “Thick is the Skin.”
“We’re currently planning releasing a new record early next year,” Snake said. “So we’ll play some of our old stuff and the title track to the new album.”
Before Common Ground wraps up, fans will have the chance to enjoy the music of artists such as Earth Wind & Fire, Journey, Foreigner, Phil Vassar, Sixwire, Tesla and Motown great Smokey Robinson.
Lansing resident Tim Kaltenbach said the musical acts are reason enough for him to check out Common Ground.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Journey,” he said. “I really enjoy the (East Lansing’s) Folk Festival every year, so this one should be interesting, too.”
Six-day passes for the festival are $60, one-day passes are $20-$25, depending on time of purchase, and children 10 and under get in free.
The multiday summer festival has grown by about by 20 percent each year, bringing 106,500 people and $5.8 million to the area during its first two seasons.
Common Ground co-founder Pete Sullivan has said he expects the festival to take 3-5 years to reach its full potential.
This year’s festival is using the same blueprint as years past, but there have been a few changes. The festival features a lineup of national acts, a selection of food vendors and outdoor activities for both children and adults.
Some new additions include Crafter’s Crossroads Arts & Crafts Exhibition and a free craft show. Patrons also will be able to take advantage of the free Ferris wheel.
Other new features include a swing-dance contest with big band music at 7 p.m. Friday and a DJ party at 10 p.m. Saturday. Both events are sponsored by the Lansing Center.
Paula Valentine, catering sales manager of Korner Kitchen, said her catering service was not a part of last year’s festival, so she made it a point to be involved this year.
“We’ll get a chance to advertise our food to more people,” Valentine said. “We’ll prepare three different types of tortillas, wraps of chicken, steak and vegetable, with cookies.”
Valentine said all of her food will be prepared beforehand and refrigerated during the festival.
“We really don’t know if were going to make a profit,” Valentine said. “But it’ll be worth the exposure.”
Tanee Elston can be reached at elstonta@msu.edu.
