Michigan Lottery Arts Beats & Eats — Attraction in Royal Oak

Update: I was hoping this year would be different but no such luck. It amazes me that an event this size does not have an ADA person working with the logistics team. Your festival is not inclusive of the disabled community. You have VIP sections and apparently a wheelchair accessible section by the main stage but the only way to get to it is pretty much inaccessible, you have to walk through a mob of people to get to it. So the disabled community is essentially come second to VIPs. You do not have well trained staff to provide information. The information booth by the main stage was empty at 8 pm at night. When I asked the Chief of Police about the accessibility section he looked at me surprised and said, “You know, I dont think there is one”. He brought me to the stage manager by the main stage who told me to walk around the perimeter and points me to the nightmare we went through last year having to fight the crowd to only find out we couldn’t get to what’s supposedly is the accessible section. Mind you we were standing by the VIP section when he was showing me this which was all nice and cozy and accessible. The streets in front of the main stage and the side streets are horrible to walk on even for an able bodied person imagine pushing a wheelchair and the chair gets caught in a large open crack. I would LOVE for someone in charge of this event to take someone out in a wheelchair and push them through this event, you have no idea. Needless to say, we won’t be back. I guess that’s one way to not have to deal with the accessibility issue. I added a photo of what I’m talking about when I say horrible roads. Imagine having to push a wheelchair on that.

I went opening day with my daughter, daughter-in-law and niece. We did have a good time with one hiccup. My daughter is a recent amputee and is a wheelchair. We navigated the concourse okay but the main stage was a disaster when we tried to see Joan Jett. There was NO information on where handicap accessible seating or area was. When we asked people that worked there they just pointed us towards the main stage where it was gated off with no way to get in and then to make it worse we had to try and get out of the massive crowd that we were navigated into. It was upsetting for our entire party and especially my daughter who is trying get use to her new normal. That put a damper on it for us. There needs to be a handicap accessible area at each stage. It needs to be visible and workers need to be informed on these areas. In addition to this all the side streets that had the artists the roads were so bad it was like walking on cobblestone and very difficult to maneuver a wheelchair let alone walk on. The streets really need to be fixed because they were...

My husband & I have been going to Arts, beats, & eats, for yrs. this yr the experience was horrible. Last yr. We went on senior day. Last yr parking We chose the parking garage closest to the venue. Last year there was elevators in the parking lot so it didn't matter which floor you have to park on. That parking structure was also close to the entrance to save seniors and handicap walking. The horrible experience started with pulling into the parking garage. I asked the lady the price of the parking and where are the handicap spots at? All she kept replying 3 to 4 times was $20, please. My husband are experiencing hard time walking. I found of spot on the third floor near the elevators. To my surprise, the elevators weren't working and the lady.All she knew was $20, but she didn't know.The elevators weren't working that's BS! WE HAD NO CHOICE THEN BUT TO TAKE THE STAIRS TO THE FIRST FLOOR. No signs on how to get out of the parking Structure. WE WALKED down the ramp to where we drove in. Last yr was a Convenient Entrance into the venue. Not this yr. It was 90o day. An abundance of places to buy alcohol, but water 💧 not a drop in sight. Your first aid stations were far few and in between. We enjoyed 2 sets of music at the SOARING Eagle event. LIKE I said, it was a 90o day. I felt Dehydrated I couldn't find water at any of the Is eating establishments. By the way WHO'S BRIGHT IDEA NOT TO HAVE MAPS. No body knew anything. Where are the first aid stations? Where can I get water, where is the midway etc, ANSWERS NOT FROM HERE DO NOT KNOW, I THINK IT MIGHT BE HERE OR THERE!!! Finally I went into a restaurant and asked if they had bottled water, They told me they did at the bar.And they had the nerve to charge $4.00 for a bottle of water, LIFES Necessity which we know cost twelve cents about when you buy it in bulk. AGAIN NO MAP OF THE EVENT & not knowing ROYAL OAK, We walked twice the distance to find our exit. We wanted to stay longer to enjoy the bands, but we knew we had to use our energy to walk the ramp to the stairs 3 stories up. You knew the Elevators were not working, the least the event planners & the city of Royal could have done was Designate the first floor for handicap parking. Enclosing this event this year made it clear that handicap.And senior's money is not appreciated! So we will go elsewhere during the labor...

Update one more reason to avoid...the stench of POT now being sold. Apparently in royal oak...impaired driving IS allowed

Don"t waste your time and money. This event used to be so much better. It started out in Pontiac many years ago. The event had true art and music. When it moved to Royal oak the venue changed. I went yesterday...even though i swore i would never try it again from last year...wanting to give it another chance. First the parking....non existent or you pay $20. I don't pay that downtown for lions or tigers. I drove many blocks away and finally found a street that had absolutely NO SIGNAGE displayed that it was permit parking. I looked all around first for any sign resembling no parking and there was none. When we returned...all of a sudden a sign magically appeared in the middle of the road...no parking and i had a $50 ticket on my window. Again there was no way this sign was there when i initially drove down the street. Second...the art - The fair consisted of very few true artists. but instead had mostly mass marketing items...very very disappointing. I am glad I went early on Friday and didn't get stuck with the entrance fee. The food....ridiculous. They use the ticket method...another scam. They make sure you have to purchase more tickets than you need....two glasses of lemonaide shouldn't cost $20. And then leaving....finding the ticket....It was next to impossible to get to the police station in order to pay for it...then charged another $5 bucks to pay on credit card. Words for the wise...STAY AWAY FROM THIS EVENT and CITY..SPEND YOUR MONEY...