Michigan-based wineries, breweries and restaurants gather for 10th annual Festival of the Sun

In celebration of summer and spirits, the 10th annual Festival of the Sun will take place from 2-10 p.m. Saturday at the park and parking lot located at the corner of Turner Street and Grand River Avenue, in Old Town Lansing.

“I’ve been out to wine events all over the country and there are very few that can rival Festival of the Sun,” said Mike Beck, owner of Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery.

The annual tasting event will feature samples from local wineries such as Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery and Hometown Cellars Winery. Michigan-based breweries like the New Holland Brewing Company, Dragonmead Brewery and Michigan Brewing Company will be offering beer for festival-goers to sample.

“We’re very excited about the vendors this year,” festival director Jenelle Wierenga said. “There’s going to be some great products for people to come out and try.”

Local eateries will also be offering food for guests to try. Cecilia Garcia, co-owner of Mama Bear’s Cafe, said the festival provides great exposure for her business in Old Town Lansing. Mama Bear’s Cafe is a quick-service deli that features local organic foods and high-end pastries.

“After the festival, we always get a bunch of people who saw us (at the festival, and then) come to check out the store and become regular customers,” Garcia said. “It’s huge for the businesses in Old Town.”

Other featured eateries include Good Eats Catering, Cosi and Cheese by L&L Food Centers. Good food and wine calls for good music, and this year’s festival features some exciting bands, Wierenga said. Hot Club of Lansing, The Lash, The Dewaynes and Ritmo will be playing live all day beginning at 2:30 p.m. An acoustic stage is also set up for more low-key music. The all-day event is open to minors from 2-7 p.m. Tickets for Festival of the Sun are $20 at the door.

Five years ago, festival organizers noticed a large group of residents and Old Town businesspeople gathering to celebrate on Friday night before the festival officially kicked off Saturday, Wierenga said. Organizers decided to incorporate the Friday night gathering, and Festival of the Moon was born, she said. Festival of the Moon is strictly a beer-tasting event sponsored by Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo. Bell’s Brewery will be debuting two new draft beers, a cherry wheat brew and a light ale, exclusively at Festival of the Moon, she said.

Snacks will be provided by Vernadine’s Soul Food and Fran’s Famous Nuts. Local bands Suburban Euphoria and Alco will play along with national act Thriving Ivory, Wierenga said.

Festival of the Moon takes place in the same park Friday night. Gates open at 6 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. It is for patrons 21 and older. Tickets are $10. For entrance and samples at both festivals, tickets are $25.

Both Festival of the Moon and Festival of the Sun are fundraisers for the Old Town Commercial Association, an organization dedicated to supporting businesses in Lansing’s Old Town, Wierenga said. The festivals are almost entirely run by volunteers and Wierenga said she is looking forward to seeing the community come out to support Lansing businesses.

Garcia, a board member of the Old Town Commercial Association, said the festivals are integral to the success of Old Town businesses.

“If we have a good festival, we tend to have a really good year,” Garcia said.