THE MAIN EVENT NOVI
PRESENTED BY: Diversified Members Credit Union
PRODUCED BY: 2 Stones Events and the City of Novi
LOCATION: Downtown Novi -- Main Street will be closed from Rojo south to Potomac and west to the Atrium of Novi from 6 a.m. Friday, June 23 to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 25. Mainstreet Village residents can access their homes via Constitution (off Grand River Ave.) or Trans X Road (off Novi Road).
CHARITY V.I.P. RECEPTION
DETAILS: 7-10 p.m. Friday, June 23; a fundraiser for the Mitchel Kiefer Foundation. Click here or the Charity V.I.P. Reception link in the top menu for more information. V.I.P. Partner -- Tom Holzer Ford.
FESTIVAL
DETAILS: 4-11 p.m. Saturday, June 24; featuring five bands, food for purchase from Novi area restaurants, a Beverage Garden with beer/wine for purchase, and a V.I.P. Area (see below).
LIVE MUSIC: 4 p.m. -- Misty Lyn & The Big Beautiful, gothic roots; 5:30 p.m. -- Lilac Lungs, alternative pop; 7 p.m. -- Liquid Monk, electronic soul; 8:30 p.m. -- Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones, jumpin' blues; 10 p.m. -- The Corktown Popes, Celtic that rocks
COST: Free but wristbands ($2) needed to purchase alcohol in the Beverage Garden (sponsored Hubert Distributors); cash only; ATM on site.
FESTIVAL V.I.P. AREA: Presented by V.I.P. Partner Tom Holzer Ford; 4-11 p.m. Saturday, June 24. A limited number of tickets ($30 online here; $35 at the gate if still available; must be 21 or older); includes appetizers (small bites; not a full dinner) from 6-7:30 p.m.; two drink tickets for premium wine and Michigan craft beer; and access to the Cigar Lounge.
PHONE: tel:586-484-8797
E-MAIL: mailto:info@2StonesEvents.com
Novi’s signature event brings sweet sounds and palate-pleasers downtown
Now that the City of Novi has a new signature festival – The Main Event Novi presented by Diversified Members Credit Union – it just needs Mother Nature to cooperate so people can head “downtown” this summer for two days of live music, beer and wine, and great food from local restaurants.
A new City event produced by 2 Stones Events, the festival launched last year under the name Vibe on Main on the second Saturday of August. A pair of rain storms put a slight damper on the inaugural event, but those who stopped by or stuck around had a blast listening to some of the area’s best local musicians.
This year’s event will take place June 23-24 on Main Street in Novi, and while it’s too early for a weather report, the music acts and atmosphere are going to be HOT.
“We can’t do anything about the weather, but people are not going to want to miss the bands and musicians we have lined up for the weekend,” said Whitney McClellan-Stone, president of 2SE. “Even if you come for one or stay for them all, Main Street is going to be alive for those two days.”
The City of Novi gave the event extensive support behind the scenes last year, and officials were impressed with it enough to sign a three-year partnership with 2SE to help firmly establish The Main Event Novi. The goal is to replace the Michigan 50’s Festival, which had a remarkable 20-year run.
McClellan-Stone, and her husband, Cal Stone, both served on the committee for the 50’s Fest, which ended in 2009. Around four years later, then city manager Clay Pearson and Sheryl Walsh, the city’s communications director, approached 2SE about creating a new festival.
“It took a while to put all the pieces together,” said McClellan-Stone, “but we were confident about making it happen in 2016 – and except for the rain, we were extremely pleased with the results.”
PALATE PLEASERS
Novi celebrates many diverse cultures, which creates an incredible variety of food offered by the city’s restaurants – Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, U.K., Indian and American. The idea for this festival is to bring as many of those in as possible to offer “bites” (at a lower price point) as well as regular portions.
“Restaurants who are interested in participating can contact 2 Stones Events (info@2StonesEvents.com) and we can provide the details,” said McClellan-Stone. “It’s inexpensive and a great way to expose your food to a large audience.”
Access is free to the Beverage Garden (sponsored by Hubert Distributors) and seating, but a $2 wristband is required to purchase alcohol; all standard beers and wines will be $5 each and premiums at a higher price. Again this year, local Rotarians will handle the sales with a portion of proceeds benefiting that club’s efforts.
“Novi Rotary is thrilled to once again partner with 2 Stones Events and the City of Novi by coordinating the Beverage Garden for The Main Event Novi,” said Wayne Wrobel, club president. “Ever since the ’50s Festival ended, there has been a recognized void for a major community event. The Main Event Novi fills this void and then some. It is a great event in a perfect location that brings the community together and showcases Novi as a destination -- and we are happy to be a part of it.”
A limited number of V.I.P. Area wristbands ($30 online; $35 at the gate if still available; must be 21 or older) include appetizers (small bites, not a full dinner) and drink tickets for premium wines and craft beer.
Wristbands and beverages are cash only; ATMs will be located in the entrance to the Beverage Garden and near the food vendors.
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Now, with the festival officially sanctioned by the City of Novi, 2SE is soliciting partnerships from local businesses. Novi Mayor Bob Gatt and City Manager Pete Auger are encouraging businesses to recognize the value of this event and what it can do for the City – especially the downtown area.
“The City of Novi relies upon the strength of the business sector for its partnership in community engagement events and activities,” state Gatt and Auger in a letter of support for The Main Event Novi. “…there is one thing missing in OUR community…a signature festival/event. We have partnered with 2 Stones Events to host and coordinate an annual festival in the Main Street area in summer 2017… We sincerely appreciate the vital contribution you make to Novi and hope you will consider lending your support to this important undertaking which will add yet another gem to our community. It is only with your partnership that Novi will continue to grow and prosper for many years to come.”
Two local businesses immediately recognized the event’s potential. Diversified Members Credit Union, which is located on the northeast corner of Main Street and Novi Road, came on board early on as the event’s exclusive Presenting Partner.
“We are very excited to be part of the city’s crown jewel music festival, The Main Event,” said DMCU CEO Kathie Trembath.
“We jumped at the opportunity to be the presenting sponsor of this event for two reasons,” said Trembath. “First, the music festival will generate traffic to the downtown area which is great for local businesses. Second, what better way to give back to the community than by bringing together people to celebrate a variety of music, enjoy unbelievable food and spend time with friends and family.”
Diversified Members Credit Union is very active in the Novi community, sponsoring many local events through the Novi library, city, high school and chamber of commerce.
“The core value of all credit unions is the philosophy of ‘People Helping People’,” said Trembath. “The Main Event Novi allows us to do this and provides a weekend of fun for everyone!”
Tom Holzer Ford is the sole V.I.P. Partner and will be hosting the Charity V.I.P. Reception from 7-10 p.m. Friday, June 23, featuring the Jill Jack Band. Proceeds from the ticket sales ($50 online beginning April 1; $60 at the door) -- which include food and tickets for beer and wine tastings -- will go toward the Mitchel Kiefer Foundation. The driving force behind this foundation is the tragic passing on September 19, 2016 of Mitchel Arthur Kiefer, a lifelong hockey player and goalie of the Detroit Catholic Central 2016 Michigan Division No. 1 State Championship Hockey Team.
"For a second year, Tom Holzer Ford is absolutely thrilled to be a sponsor of the festival – this year as the sole V.I.P. Partner," said Brian Burke, sales consultant at Holzer and a Novi City Council member. "Last year, we saw the opportunity and the potential for this event to pick up where the 50's Festival left off. When Cal and Whitney approached us, it took all of about five minutes to decide that we wanted to continue to support this event."
The dealership, noted Burke, has been serving the transportation needs of thousands of Novi residents for more than 42 years and the dealership recognizes this as a small way of giving back to the community.
"Bringing people, music, food and art together in such a great location as Main Street shows our commitment to Novi and the surrounding communities as well as Oakland County," said Burke.
MUSIC VARIETY
For years. 2SE has been involved in booking the live music for many events in the region – like Brighton’s Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival, Taste of Brighton, and Fine Arts & Acoustic Music Festival; Northville’s Arts & Acts; and Howell’s Rock the Block; the Michigan State Fair; and Milford’s Currents – but this new Novi festival is truly unique.
“Our concept for The Main Event Novi is to have five completely different genres of music,” said Cal Stone. “Like all the different varieties of food from local restaurants, we want people to experience music that they may never have thought about trying.”
That includes electronic soul, bluegrass, alternative pop, blues and Americana. The live music begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. with each act playing a one-hour set.
“We have about 400 bands or musicians that we work with,” said Stone, “and we’ve tapped some of our personal favorites to perform in downtown Novi. Last year’s lineup was very diverse, but this year’s is unlike any other festival in the region.”
(Click here or on the 'SOUNDS' link in the top menu to view the music schedule and band profiles.)
NOTE: Main Street will be closed to traffic from Paul Bunyon Drive (bd’s Mongolian Grill and Rojo) south to Potomac Road and then west toward Novi Road from 6 a.m. Friday, June 23 to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 25. Mainstreet Village residents can access their homes via Constitution (off Grand River Ave.) or Trans X Road (off Novi Road).
2 Stones Events
Cal & Whitney Stone are 2 Stones Events: "We are passionate about music and how it relates to economic development in communities -- the importance of building and branding a live music series, festivals and other music-related events, as well as the impact it has on the well-being of a community, its residents and business owners.
"Our company’s roots go back to March 2002 with a Wynton Marsalis fundraising concert at the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts; 2 Stones Events officially incorporated in March 2009. We are fortunate to work with incredibly talented musicians who are not only professional, but also some of the best in the world. If you need live music for your Michigan event — in nearly every genre and budget — contact us!"
