Local Entertainment Company Thinks Up Way to Celebrate the State

George Gikas thinks Michigan deserves to be celebrated.

The president of Farmington Hills-based TGIF Entertainment and his colleagues were visiting Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn last year to organize an event. As he was being shown the grounds of MIS, Gikas had an idea.

“We ran across several different sites where we felt we could do multiple stages,” Gikas said. “That’s when, really, the concept germinated in my head ... it was the perfect grounds for a music festival.”

MI Fest (pronounced like “My Fest”) will be held Sept. 17 this year. Gikas’ vision is for more than just a music festival, and for more than just one year.

“Music is the primary focus of the event,” Gikas said. “But it’s also an opportunity and a celebration within the state of Michigan.”

General admission tickets will be sold for the event as well as VIP tickets and special camping access for an additional fee. Gikas said that music is the first thing he thinks of when he thinks of his home state.

“Obviously we’ve got a tremendous amount of music that we have provided the world,” Gikas said. “It may not be exclusive to Michigan artists, however it will be predominantly Michigan artists that will be on our lineup.”

The lineup will be made available in late spring, and Gikas said that he and his staff are “feverishly working” to get it settled. They are also working to maximize both space and opportunity for all the vendors who will be at the event. Food vendors, artisans and other industries will be represented at the event.

“We’re not confined with how many [vendors], really it’s a matter of what makes sense for those merchants to do well,” Gikas said. “We want those merchants that are part of this, especially in our first year, to really enjoy the opportunity to do well and to also get the maximum exposure. We could go endless and just keep selling booths but that’s not really our goal.”

Another goal is to get people visiting the Great Lake State and appreciating its natural beauty.

 “You get to enjoy the outdoors in Michigan in the fall season, which is always the best season in our state,” Gikas said. “That’s my opinion but I think a lot of people would agree”

The first MI Fest will take place on Sept. 17 on the grounds of the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Tickets will be available soon as will the lineup of musical acts and vendors. More information can be found at the event website at mi-fest.com