LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) -- Over the last couple of years Common Ground concerts have been a week long, but because of the holiday this year, those days were shortened. That makes no difference for the crowd.
Because of that, this is always the time of year local businesses look forward to.
"We have a great economic impact every year on an annual basis, so you know all sorts of people are coming from out of town spending money not only at the festival, but hotels," Jenna Meyer said.
Local businesses and non-profits make a decent amount of money working inside the park as well. Common Ground offers their space to people like Lansing Catholic High School to keep their music program going. Being among the food vendors, they say it's a great way to get exposure.
"I know that each year my program gets about thirteen hundred dollars for working one night, so yeah it's a good deal," Jan Tietsort said. Tietsort is the band and choir director at Lansing Catholic High School.
Meyers said Common Ground is expecting 9 to 10,000 people Saturday night. The brand has expanded nationwide bringing people from out of state who can't wait to try the local food.
Latisha Hicks works for the Eastside Fish Fry food vendor at the festival and she says the business has a decent line of people every year.
"Actually it's been the most people I've seen ever at Common Ground, so I think it was a good turnout this year," she said.
