Founders Fest cites ‘safety of the community’ in skipping 2020 street party

With coronavirus concerns growing, Founders Brewing Co. joined other Michigan festivals in canceling plans for its traditional June festival in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

For more than a decade, Founders Fest has drawn thousands to a June street party in downtown Grand Rapids for a day-long celebration of beer and live music.

But for the first time, that won’t be the case come June 2020.

Founders Brewing Co. this week canceled the annual party that was scheduled to take place June 20 on the streets outside its taproom and brewery.

“For the safety of the community, our staff and the artists, we have decided to forgo Founders Fest 2020,” the brewery announced in a short statement posted on social media.

“For the last 13 years Founders Fest has been the highlight of our summer. Rest assured this decision was not made lightly. We look forward to sharing a beer with all of you as soon as we can reopen.”

The brewery on Wednesday also announced separately that it would be furloughing 163 employees in Grand Rapids and Detroit starting May 3. Founders had been paying its retail teams since closing its taprooms in mid-March.

Last year’s 12th Founders Fest drew huge throngs for performances by Gov’t Mule, Toots & The Maytals, Macy Gray, The War and Treaty, The FBC All-Stars and Lady Ace Boogie. See full Local Spins coverage here.

Isabelle Golczynski, retail marketing coordinator, reiterated only that Founders “just couldn’t move forward with the fest out of (concerns for) the safety of everyone.”

This week’s announcement follows festival cancellations by Electric Forest, Buses by the Beach’s Bus Benefit, Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, Blissfest and several others. June’s B93 Birthday Bash scheduled for Fifth Third Ballpark, meanwhile, has been postponed to Aug. 29.

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