GR businesses ‘ready to go’ for Breakaway Festival

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Concertgoers are expected to pack Belknap Park by the thousands this weekend for Breakaway Music Festival.

Some restaurant owners hope the major acts turn into major business.

“Concertgoers, great group of kids that come out to this event. They are real respectful and they like to have fun. So yeah, we are excited,” said Kevin Farhat, owner of the Garage Bar and Grill Grand Rapids.

Promoters say last year’s attendance hovered around 15,000. This year, the total is expected to boom, with around 17,000 dance and EDM fans coming together for two days of music.

Organizers attribute the boom in audience growth to having good relationships with area partners around the state. They also say the global and national acts, like performers Louis the Child and Marshmello, help increase attendance.

Farhat says he’s expecting his bar to be packed from the afternoon to the early morning during the festival.

Other businesses nearby are not as optimistic. One assistant manager of a restaurant near Belknap Park says last year, the festival did not provide many new customers, despite the business even bringing in its own DJ.

Farhat is trying the same idea by bringing in a DJ from the festival as part of the Garage Bar’s own afterparty.

The owner of the bar says festivals tend to keep his staff fairly busy.

“These two weekends, between Upheaval and Breakaway, they are not record days, but they are pretty close,” he said. “Like I said, we’re ready to go.”

This year’s Breakaway Festival is bartender Leah Turkington’s fifth working at the bar.

She says she’s not fazed by the crowds. Rather, she welcomes the energy.

“Just excited,” she said. “I love when it’s busy and I love when people are happy.”

Breakaway Music Festival kicked off Friday and wraps up Saturday.

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