Summer festivals: More than just cotton candy, carnival rides & parades.

When we think of local community festivals in Macomb County, we tend to focus on the little things like the cotton candy, carnival rides, and parades.  Family favorites like the Armada County Fair and Romeo Peach Festival have been around for decades and have etched their place in the rich cultural history of Macomb County.  But these events provide more than elephant ears and fireworks; they help to create a sense of community by bringing hundreds of volunteers together to coordinate and assist with events.  They attract hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors into towns which can help to attract residents and possible enterprise.  The events can also offer an economic boost for local businesses. 

Anyone who has been involved in the planning of a community event knows that an enormous amount of human and financial resources are needed to make it a success.  But is the investment worth the return?

Connie Connelly is Director of the Romeo Downtown Development Authority and a business owner within the district.  She says, “Our events draw a lot of visitors who become enthralled with our community.  Our invitation to others to join us to celebrate the harvest of peaches or the Victorian days of yesterday creates a level of excitement that we simply can’t achieve in any other way.  As a result, our businesses have been impacted tenfold by the number of people who patronize us during the event but also return to our stores as a result of their initial visit.  Without the Peach Festival and other special events, it would be hard to get by.” 

Armada Township Supervisor Don Eison agrees that while a lot of work goes into make the Armada Fair a success each year, it has become an annual event that the whole community looks forward to each year.  “The Armada Fair put us on the map.  Ours is now recognized as one of the very best in the state and we are all very proud of that.  Each year, our residents look forward to the fair as a way to work together while showcasing our community to the many visitors we greet each year.” 

Testament to the positive returns that a community event can produce, Macomb is beginning to see new festivals added to the annual Macomb event calendar.  Relative newcomers like Mount Clemens’ “Stars and Stripes Festival” or Clinton Township’s “Festival of the Senses” are quickly rising to the top of “must attend” events within the region.

It is important for festival hosts to realize that events must continue to evolve in order to keep visitors returning year after year while attracting new participants.  Dr. Ed Mahoney, Michigan State University Professor and MSU Extension Specialist, is a leading researcher on tourism and festivals.  He stresses, “Reputation is crucial to the success of festivals and events. These festivals provide a quality of life component.  They stimulate repeat visits, extended stays, and support community institutions.  However, we cannot keep mining our festivals and events.  We have to help them to grow by discovering new ways to attract more diverse interests.” This growth Dr. Mahoney refers to can be accomplished through collaboration between festival/event planning boards and the local business community.  “By creating a vision and a product line that highlights services and opportunities, and enacting that vision over the long-term you can make your event more dynamic.”