Downtown Brighton is a work zone. Here's how that is affecting 2023 events
BRIGHTON — An 11-month construction project underway in downtown is making civic event organizers change plans or, in some cases, postpone until 2024.
Parade routes, for instance, are in limbo, while some large events have found alternative locations, including some festivals and fundraisers moving to Mt. Brighton.
A construction project that started in January on Main Street and portions of Grand River Avenue will install new water lines and revitalize the downtown streetscape. While that's all taking place, however, portions of Main Street and other thoroughfares are closing at different phases through fall and will affect events typically taking place downtown.
The city has begun replacing water mains, which has required closing one lane of Main Street and rerouting traffic. Once that's complete, the city will narrow Main Street, widen sidewalks, revamp a portion of the Mill Pond park and revamp crossings, plantings, lighting and other features in the streetscape.
Downtown businesses remain open while the work continues and, so far, 17 events have applied with the city to hold civic events downtown this year.
Brighton City Council is expected to review applications for events March 2.
What we know about Brighton events
Weekends on West has proposed a live music event from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, from May 5 to Oct. 7, on West Street between Ginopolis’ Bar-BQ Smokehouse and The POUND!, off Main Street.
El Arbol has proposed hosting a Cinco de Mayo event from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 5 outside the restaurant on West St. Paul Street, off Main Street.
The Brighton Farmers Market will remain at its location in the municipal lot, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, May 6 through Oct. 28.
Brighton Veterans Memorial Committee Chairperson Steve Conaway said the annual Memorial Day Parade, set for 10 a.m. May 29, and the Veterans Day Parade, set for 11 a.m. Nov. 11, will still happen but the routes are uncertain.
"Basically, the route will be established around the time of the parade," said Conaway, who is commander of VFW Post 4357 and senior vice commander of American Legion Post 235.
Normally, the Memorial Day Parade starts at Brighton High School and travels up Main Street to the Mill Pond, where there is a veterans memorial. Veterans Day programs take place at The AMP! amphitheater. This year, an alternate route is proposed in the event application submitted to the city showing the parade turn off Main Street at First Street to Mill Pond Lane to the memorial and amphitheater.
Conaway said if they must use the alternate route, they would need to exclude vehicles from the parade.
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Several events have applied through the city to use The AMP! amphitheater and Mill Pond park, including Swing at the AMP!, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Mondays from May 29 to Sept. 4; Turn Up The AMP! from 5:30 to 9 p.m. June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13; Fishing Derby for Kids from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 17; and The Livingston County Concert Band from 6 to 9 p.m. June 6 and 13.
Taste of Brighton, usually in July, has not applied with the city to conduct the event downtown. A message seeking comment was left Tuesday.
Brighton's Fourth of July parade is set to happen at 10 a.m. on the holiday. The city is working with the Brighton Area Fire Authority on a parade route.
"That's one of those things we have to review and come up with another route," said Patty Thomas, the city's assistant to the department of public services director.
The 16th annual Hungry Duck Run does not use Main Street and is proposed for 6 to 9:30 a.m. on July 4.
Thomas said two July 4 traditions have not been proposed this year. A Ducking Dash before the parade and a rubber duck race normally at the Mill Pond were not included in the event application.
Fund A Life's Run for Hope 5K is moving to Mt. Brighton July 15. It is expected to kick off at 8 a.m. and feature a 5K run around the ski and snowboarding resort, yoga, a 5K heats with obstacles, a kids' run.
Fund A Life founder Mark Howell said moving it to Mt. Brighton was an "opportunity to tweak the event" by adding more activities.
"They have a route around the entire mountain, kind of at the base of it, and hopefully it will make it a scenic run for the runners and hopefully make it more challenging with the obstacle event," Howell said. "And a bigger party because its not on school property, with music, pumping the DJ, food and adult beverages and kid beverages."
Bountiful Harvest announced on its website it will host Bark in the Park from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 22 downtown. The organization had not yet submitted an application to the city as of Tuesday. A message seeking comment was left with Bountiful Harvest.
The Kiwanis Club of Brighton is working on moving its car show events to Brighton High School and has not applied for any Concerts at The AMP this year, according to Thomas.
The Chamber will instead host a new country music festival — Yellowstone Country Music Festival — from 2 to 10 p.m. July 22 at Mt. Brighton. The event is inspired by the television drama, "Yellowstone."
"We decided not to have the art festival this year and have this country music festival instead this year, and we hope it will become an annual staple," Pam McConeghy, president and CEO of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, said in January after announcing the new festival. "We’re making the best of a tough situation, and we’re looking outside the box."
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Brighton's Art & Music Festival has been canceled. The Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce opted to postpone the August event until 2024 due to downtown construction.
Smokin' Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival will move to Mt. Brighton from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 8 and noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 9. The barbecue and music festival usually fills Main Street with smoke from food trucks, trailers and restaurants cooking outside.
The Brighton Area Fire Authority has proposed a 9/11 Memorial 5K run and walk from 8 to 11 a.m. Sept. 9.
Veterans Connected has proposed hosting Ruck to Live from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 23 on Main Street.
Thomas said the city and event organizers might have to evaluate its location as the event gets closer.
LACASA's Glow Gathering Lighting Ceremony is proposed for 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse. It is traditionally held at the Mill Pond park and The AMP!.
The 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's has moved to downtown Howell this year, according to its website, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 30.
Brighton High School's Homecoming Parade is proposed for 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 13, but the route could change.
"They are hoping that will be the same route down Main Street, but obviously we'd have to address that as it got closer," Thomas said.
The Chamber could host Holiday Glow with the Christmas Market on Main Street by November, depending on construction.
In the application to the city, "they are proposing to have it in municipal parking lot where the farmers market is if they can’t do it on Main Street," Thomas said.
Ladies Night Out, a downtown shopping event, is proposed for 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7.
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: What we know about Brighton events during downtown construction
