Arts, Beats & Eats -- Festival of Hope September 4, 2009

Downtown Pontiac

www.artsbeatseats.com or 248-334-4600.

Formerly sponsored by Chrysler, now aiming to help TEN area charities -

50 restaurants, 200 performers, 155 art exhibitors.

Arts, Beats & Eats is excited to add to its name, mission and purpose in 2009. We are now Arts, Beats & Eats Festival of Hope and we are excited to announce new changes and new partners as we move forward without our title sponsor, Chrysler. The festival will still feature one of the top art shows in the US, incredible food, more than 125 bands on six stages, and a great family area for the kids. Here are the changes in store for this year:

ADMISSION FEE: We do have to charge a small fee to make up for lost sponsorship revenue. It will be a $2 per person donation, and all kids admission fees will come with a free carnival ride or craft. The fee will be split with local non-profits

HOPE FOR LOCAL CHARITIES: We are partnering with thirteen local charities that will accept donations at fifteen different festival entry points. All admission fees will be split between the Arts, Beats & Eats Foundation to support festival expenses and the non-profit partners:

Here are our partners:
The Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Michigan Chapter
American Red Cross, Southeast Michigan Chapter
The Children's Center of Detroit
March of Dimes
Lighthouse of Oakland County
The Children's Miracle Network
JARC
The Rainbow Connection
Detroit Public Television
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit

VALUE TO OUR GUESTS: We sell our food and beverages in tickets at 16 tickets for $10 or eight tickets for $5. We are keeping our drink costs at the same price as last year of 4 tickets for water and soft drinks and 8 tickets for a beer. All food items will be priced at no more than 8 tickets for $5. All concerts are free, and our $2 admission fee will include a carnival ride for each child and a Pepsi product drink ticket for adults. Parking will be reduced from $10 to $8 at the Phoenix Plaza and there are other downtown lots where parking is available for $5 or $7.

MORE CULTURE: Arts, Beats & Eats is committed to the arts and will offer the Oakland County Summer Arts Program, as well as performances by Eisenhower Dance and Detroit Chamber Winds. In addition, Metro Parent Magazine will operate our arts and crafts area providing great opportunity for kids to make and take art projects while at the festival.

COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT: Arts, Beats & Eats will continue to feature the ITC Greenways (link to greenways) including unique exhibits and "green ways" the festival operates to reduce its waste. Thank you to all those that have attended our event for free the last eleven years. We HOPE that you join us this year and support culture, diversity, quality of life and great non-profit partners

Official Website: http://artsbeatseats.com