Ford Arts, Beats & Eats announces healthy events, indulgences and needed expansion

Larger footprint to host additional attractions, culinary experiences and sponsor exhibits;

New 5K run/walk underscores commitment to the arts and healthy living

ROYAL OAK, MI – Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Citizens Bank and festival founder, L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive, today announced that the 14th annual festival is returning for the second year to Royal Oak, featuring an expanded footprint and renewed commitment to healthy living and the arts. The festival also is proud to welcome aboard several new sponsors and many returning partners, without whom the festival would be possible.

The annual tradition of art, food, music and family fun will feature several new events and some health conscious attractions, including a run/walk event, designated healthy menu options and health screenings. Of course those looking for indulgence will also be in “Good Shape” with new sponsor Hudsonville Ice Cream and a BBQ Alley, which will add tasty food to a festival that will boast 71 restaurants, and become the largest food event in the United States. Ford Arts, Beats & Eats will be held Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2 through Sept. 5, 2011.

“Arts, Beats & Eats is among the premier quality of life events in Oakland County that draws people from across the region to experience great art, music and food,” said Patterson. “The festival attracted record crowds in Royal Oak last year raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities. We expect an even bigger turnout this year.”


HERE WE GROW!

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats will grow larger this year as the festival footprint expands north on Center Street to Third Street and east on Fourth Street to Main Street. The addition of Lincoln Street to the south from Center to Washington will also give the festival the chance to add 25 outstanding new artists to its highly rated art fair.

“The energy created by the combination of the City of Royal Oak and Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is electric,” said City of Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison. “We are convinced that the new expansion closer to Main Street will give an even greater boost to Royal Oak restaurants and businesses. We are certain this festival will continue to showcase Royal Oak as a great entertainment destination and spell success on all fronts.”

THE EVENT’s GOT LEGS: Arts in Motion 5K

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats introduces the ultimate 5K, which like most events at the festival is a product of true collaboration. The Priority Healthy Arts in Motion 5K presented by DMC Sports Medicine is open to runners and walkers of all ages. The event will be held Saturday, September 3 at 9 a.m. and will be produced in partnership with Michigan Youth Arts, a statewide association that serves as an alliance of arts education organizations across artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, media arts, music composition, theater, visual arts and vocal music. Proceeds from the run will support many Michigan Youth Arts Programs.

The race/walk course will wind through the park and tree-lined neighborhoods of Royal Oak. Artists of all ages will perform along the route and in Starr Jaycee Park, as well as install visual and interactive art in the park. Participants are invited to run or walk in costume, form a team, or dance their way through the 5k. Creative awards will be given to participants. Prizes will be awarded for best individual costume and most creative team theme.

The cost for the chip-timed 5K run is $25 before July 15 and $35 thereafter. Cost for the 5K fun run/walk is $20 before July 15 and $30 thereafter. All registrations include free admission to Ford Arts, Beats & Eats and participants can register for the event by visiting http://www.michiganyoutharts.org/5k/. Starr Jaycee Park is located in Royal Oak on 13 Mile Road. just east of Crooks.

“Priority Health is pleased to partner with Ford Arts, Beats & Eats to help in spreading the message of healthy living within the community – and delivering it with a clever and fun twist,” said Don Whitford, Vice President of Sales and Client Services, Priority Health. “The 5K is more than just a race. This day is a celebration of well-being and a great way to demonstrate the many benefits of a healthy lifestyle, as well as raise money to support arts education in Michigan schools.”

In addition to being title sponsor of the race, Priority Health is bringing more healthy elements to the festival, including the sponsorship of a Health & Wellness Tent featuring several medical screenings, as well as a program to identify healthy items that are on the menus of local restaurants.


GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD 2.0

THE DUEL

For the first time ever, respected local “top chefs” will fight to the finish at Ford Arts, Beats & Eats as part of Holiday Market’s and Mirepoix Cooking School’s, “The Duel.”

A new festival attraction, the extreme cook-off will actually begin in the weeks prior to the Labor Day Weekend celebration and offer up $10,000 in cash prize money. The Mirepoix Cooking School, an affiliate of Royal Oak’s Holiday Market, will invite eight metro Detroit chefs to participate in four rounds of competition. Rounds one and two will take place at the Mirepoix Cooking School on Wednesday, August 10 and 17. Mirepoix is metro Detroit’s premier culinary resource and is located above Holiday Market on Main Street in Royal Oak. The names of participants will be announced at a later date. This is an invitation-only competition.

The challenge, based on a secret ingredient, will add an element of suspense for spectators and the chefs alike, as the chefs will not be informed of the exact nature of the challenge in advance. Chefs will be provided with a list of “pantry” or “stock” ingredients, as well as a Holiday Market gift card to make the remainder of the purchases necessary to complete their courses at the competition.

After two elimination challenges at Mirepoix, the final two rounds will take place on the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats International Stage, cheered on by the crowd on Friday and Sunday, September 2 and 4. The International Stage will be located at the corner of Sixth and Lafayette streets within the festival footprint.

“The Duel will be a series of quick-fire challenges that will offer the audience an up close look at the ingenuity of the regional culinary players we’ve all come to know and admire,” Tom Violante, Jr., Holiday Market’s store director and owner. “People are passionate about food and the chefs will really feed on the excitement of having an audience while they put together their most creative dishes with limited budget and time. No leisurely menu planning here!”


FESTIVAL PARTNERS: A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS

FORD

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is pleased to welcome back Ford as festival title sponsor, which plans on growing its activation spending, ride and drive and exhibit space by 10 to 15 percent. Last year, Ford and the Southeast Michigan Ford Dealer Association amassed more than 14,000 leads and directly attributed the sale of 282 cars from guests attending the festival and see additional investment as only a win-win for the region.

“Ford Arts, Beats & Eats has instantly become a worthwhile sponsorship and partnership,” said Mike O'Brien, Detroit Regional Sales Manager, Ford Great Lakes Sales Division. “Arts, Beats & Eats makes a real impact on the bottom lines of local nonprofits and charitable organizations and celebrates quality of life and diversity in our region. It’s also a serious investment for us, but one that’s paid immediate sales and brand dividends that we’ve been able to track. We believe in supporting the people and communities in which we live, work and play, and it’s a great bonus when we can introduce so many patrons to our industry leading line-up of cars and trucks.”

Returning to the festival entertainment line-up will be an all new Drive One Tour, which brings a fun and interactive display of exciting Ford products, including new events like the Push to Start MPG Jackpot, My Ford Touch technology demonstrations and the count challenge. Festival patrons will have a chance to enter the Drive One Tour sweepstakes for a chance to win a new Ford vehicle.

Ford’s ride and drive festival opportunity will highlight the 2012 Focus along with the 2011 Explorer, F-150 and Edge.

The all-new 2012 Ford Focus gets up to 40MPG, encouraging drivers to "start something different." Festival visitors have the opportunity to feel the vehicle technology and design wrap flawlessly around them as they plug into something that's definitely more than just a car. Games, prizes and on-hand Focus experts make for an energetic chance to meet this all-new vehicle.

CITIZENS BANK

Citizens Bank has returned as the presenting sponsor for its second consecutive year and will once again host the Citizens Bank Food Drive. The Citizens Bank Food Drive will collect donations of food to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan in an effort to raise awareness of the hunger relief initiative.

“We are excited to again be a part of Oakland County’s premier summer festival,” said Citizens Bank President and CEO Cathleen Nash. “The sponsorship we have with Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is a great fit for Citizens Bank. It serves as an outstanding vehicle to assist us in raising awareness of the need for hunger relief initiatives across our region and share our message that no one in our community should ever go hungry. Our goal is to get immediate help to people who need it most and Ford Arts, Beats & Eats helps us do just that.”

HUDSONVILLE ICE CREAM LEADS A “COOL” NEW LINE-UP OF NEW SPONSORS

To date, new sponsors that are helping to make 2011 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats possible include Hudsonville Ice Cream, Olga’s Kitchen, Hansons Windows, Holiday Market, Detroit Medical Center, Gordon Food Service and School of Rock – Rochester. Hudsonville plans many “Ice Cream Social Events” related to the festival, including a free ice cream volunteer recruitment party and daily free ice cream to all volunteers throughout the weekend.

RETURNING SPONSORS

Returning sponsors include Art Van Furniture, Blue Care Network, Brown-Forman, Budweiser, California Pizza Kitchen, Citizens Bank, City of Royal Oak, Comcast (MVP Collaborative), Downtown Royal Oak, Entertainment Publications, Ford, ITC Holdings Corporation, M1 Studios, Metro PCS, Michigan Lottery, Oakland Community College, Oakland County Parks, Our Credit Union, Pepsi, Detroit Pistons, Priority Health, Radisson, Renewal by Anderson, Robert Mondavi Wine Tour, Skidmore Studio, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Benson Millar Insurance Agency Uptown Entertainment, U.S. Bank FlexPerks Visa, US Park and WDIV-TV.

BBQ ALLEY

Also new in 2011 is the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats BBQ Alley. Located on Center between Third and Fourth streets, festival guests will surely be treated to tantalizing aromas, sizzling grills, and some sticky fingers.

A stellar lineup of six restaurants and BBQ caterers will be featured, including Royal Oak’s Lockhart’s BBQ, The Oxford Inn, Smokin' Joe’s BBQ, Jackson Five Star Catering, Bo’s Roaster and others. A variety of food will be offered from BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and ribs to chicken wings and baked beans. It will be anchored by a Country Western stage with musical performances to truly add some southwest country flavor.

“HOW TWEET IT IS”

While Ford Arts, Beats & Eats has gained recognition during the past couple of years for its innovative use of social media, ¬¬including tweeting out traffic conditions at regular intervals and offering Facebook fans special prize packages for sharing festival feedback, efforts are going to higher levels with the hiring of Scott Bartosiewicz as its new social media community manager.

Bartosiewicz plans on several new strategies for 2011 that encourage interaction in the months leading up to the festival. Tweet to win and Facebook contests will lead fans to great prizes, including VIP concerts seats and free admissions to Ford Arts, Beats & Eats. This year additional prizes will be offered by festival sponsors, such as Weekend Getaways to the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The festival also plans to truly integrate fans in its planning by creating opportunities for followers to select and choose their favorite fine artist, restaurant, or local band to receive additional media exposure.

“Our fans will play a role in how we present and market Ford Arts, Beats & Eats,” says Bartosiewicz. “We expect our new strategies will make it more fun to be a fan and follower to grow our support base significantly leading up to the festival.”

The social media campaign will also focus on providing increased visibility and integration of sponsors and their activations. The festival will feature sponsor giveaways in its social media contests, as well as providing incentives onsite at the festival for those that visit in sponsor activations.

Additionally, the festival’s community giving also will be enhanced by social media. A special Facebook “Like” campaign will allow non-profits to earn additional cash donations as well as increased percentages from admission revenue at the festival. “We plan on engaging more than 25 of our non-profit partners into our social platforms,” said Jonathan Witz, festival producer. “This opportunity will give them all a chance to earn extra donations from the festival and our guests.”

Finally, Bartosiewicz plans to create Geo-social check-in opportunities and establishment of "deals" at event from Ford Arts, Beats & Eats, sponsors and participating restaurants, for those that “Check into the Festival” through Foursquare and Facebook.

These programs and others will begin as early as June 1.

BRING ON THE ACCOLADES

Entering its 14th year, Ford Arts Beats & Eats continues to garner local and national accolades. Recently it became the only Michigan show to rate in the Top 10 of 600 when Art Fair Source Book named the festival the Fourth Best Art Show in the U.S. in terms of sales.

Art Fair Source Book is considered the No. 1 rating resource that artists consult when deciding which shows across the country they should apply. Already recognized as one of the best, Ford Arts, Beats & Eats anticipates continued success as the Festival expands.

“Every year, we work hard to produce a festival that has the best art, entertainment and food in order to attract increasing numbers of visitors. We strive for quality in everything we do,” said Witz. “While it was a tremendous honor to be recognized among the very top art shows, we not only want to make Ford Arts, Beats & Eats the best art show, but we also want to make it the best festival in the country.”


The 14th annual Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County's Taste, Music & Arts Festival, will be held over Labor Day weekend in downtown Royal Oak, September 2-5, 2011. Approximately 423,000 visitors attended the 2010 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats in its new home in Royal Oak. Fan us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @artsbeatseats. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com or call 248-334-4600.