Putting it all together

Much like mosaic art itself, the Michigan Mosaic Music Festival combines diverse events together, creating one vast fest in Lansing’s Adado Riverfront Park. 

The Labor Day weekend outdoor event, now in its second year, features everything from live music and ethnic dancing to Dragon Boat races and fireworks. Mayor Virg Bernero hosts the Mayor’s Labor Walk at 2 p.m. Saturday, which starts at the pedestrian bridge in Adado Riverfront Park. 

Other attractions include a beverage tent, food vendors, a car show, motorcycle show, and a 5k run/walk. The event is produced by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, with support from the City of Lansing.

Among the acts set to perform are the Tejano band La Corporacion, the rockabilly sounds of Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, Italian-folk singer Pino Marelli and local soul/gospel veteran Orrick Ewing. Also taking the stage will be African and Korean drum troupes.

Eclectic entertainment aside, the celebration honors Labor Day with a Union Tent, including the booths of a local unions, displaying their contributions to Lansing’s past and present. 

Mike Skory, a MICA coordinating committee member and one of the many organizers of the Mosaic Music Fest, said the union aspect to the event is about Michigan’s history.

“It’s not going to be like a lecture — you can meet representatives from the unions and fire questions at them,” Skory said. “A lot of people do not know the histories of the unions and how they contributed to the success of the middle class in Michigan for a long time. 

“We tend to look at life and history and only go back a year or two,” he added. “But when you look at the big picture you see how unions fit in.”

Something new to Lansing is the Capital City Dragon Boat Race, happening across the river from Mosaic. The race is sponsored by the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council. It’s a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that’s become a growing water sport in North America. 

This race is open to the public, but space is limited. The cost is approximately $45 per person and proceeds go to Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council. Spectators can watch from the east and west banks of the Shiawassee Street Bridge. 

“We race 40-foot long boats with the head and tail of a dragon,” said Julie Powers, director of Mid-MEAC. “Twenty people are in the boat, and they race down the Grand River for 300 meters, and whoever catches the flag first wins.”

Powers said she feels the Dragon Boat Race and Mosaic make a perfect pair.

“We’re two separate events but we decided to do it at the same time,” Powers said. “We’re really glad to have the Mosaic Music Fest going on at the same time. It’s such a diverse event that celebrates different cultures; our races are all about Chinese culture, so we thought it was a great tie-in.” 

Skory said the MICA committee, which also produces JazzFest and BluesFest in Old Town, also has a deeper reason for hosting such events. 

“Our belief has always been: if you present quality arts — music, visual art, performance art — people are going to want to live where that’s going on,” said Skory, who is also a veteran musician. “I think if you look around the country you see it. People tend to gravitate toward that. People want to be there.”