By Shelby Clark Petkus
Royal Oak's Farmer's Market is preparing for the much-desired warm weather of spring with upcoming events, including The Gardenia & Bluegrass Roots Festival, co-sponsored by the Ark and Grand Circus Media, beginning at 7:30 p.m. April 11. The bill features cutting-edge roots and jam bands, including Keller & The Keels, The Ragbirds, Catfish Mafia and more. A cash-only bar will be featured.
A portion of proceeds will benefit Camp Casey, a Royal Oak-based nonprofit horseback riding program for children with cancer.
Tickets for the blues and roots festival are $25-50 and can be purchased at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market and UHF Records in Royal Oak or The Ark and the Michigan Union Ticket Office in Ann Arbor. For further information, visit http://www.grandcircusmedia.com/gardenia-bluegrass-roots-festival. An official afterparty with Whiskey Shivers will follow the event at Royal Oak Brewery, 215 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak.
The spring edition of the Royal Oak Beer Fest comes to the market on Saturday, April 26 with "The Spring Fever Beer Club." Like the winter beer fest, the festival aims to "promote craft beers and the brewers that create them," all while benefitting local charities. The beer fest will specifically benefit AIDS Walk: Detroit, Handy Hearts and Vista Maria.
It will feature over 150 beers from 54 different breweries, as well as host 11 ciders, two spirits, 12 wines and other libations. A DJ and Christina & Joey from Kaliedo will play music as festive games fill the market, including "birdy golf," giant Jenga and cornhole. Four food vendors and various food samples can also be found throughout the venue.
The Royal Oak Beer Fest begins at 7 p.m. for VIP ticketholders, 8 p.m. for general admission. Tickets are $40-60, with $10 tickets available for designated drivers. Call 248-202-4663 or visit http://www.royaloakbeerfest.com for further event details.
The Royal Oak Farmer's Market also features monthly "Food Truck Rallies" the second Wednesday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m. Each rally features some of Metro Detroit's finest food trucks. Sponsored by the Michigan Mobile Food Vendors Association, the family-friendly event brings affordable food and a variety of music to the market. The next rallies are Wednesday, May 14 and Wednesday, June 11.
When not hosting special events, the Farmer's Market is open year-round on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Summer hours include Friday, with hours ranging from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market is located at 316 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak. For more information on the market, call 248-246-3276 or visit http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us.
