Summer Celebration starts counting the totals; looking toward the future | wzzm13.com | Grand Rapids, MI

Summer Celebration starts counting the totals; looking toward the future | wzzm13.com | Grand Rapids, MI.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM) - Organizers of Muskegon's Summer Celebration say the economy and the cool weather were challenges as the festival looked to climb out of debt. It was the 17th year for the music festival at Heritage Landing. Organizers say it will take a couple of months to determine if the festival made any money and if it will be back for an 18th year. It takes two weeks to set up, two days to tear down, and two months of number crunching to know if Summer Celebration made any money. "Well, we had some bad weather early last week...the cold and the rain hurt us and it wasn't looking good," said Joe Austin, the Executive Director of Summer Celebration. "Then however, we finished strong and that gave us some encouragement." The festival needed a good year to pay off debt it accrued last summer. Any profit this year would go a long way to stabilize the festival's future. Organizers froze the price of 11-day pass, and lowered the price of single night tickets. Those changes were in direct response to the economy, and more changes are likely. "You have to look at what you are doing and what works," Austin told WZZM 13 News today. "Those that make changes that are effective are the ones that stay in business. Those that do not change usually fall by the wayside." The big question is 'Will the festival return next summer?' Austin says that's the goal every year, but, it's too early to make any promises." "That will be a decision the board will have to make," explained Austin. "Based on how we come out with the bottom line, I guarantee the board will exhaust every avenue to make sure Summer Celebration is back next year." The number of nights could be scaled back, but don't expect Summer Celebration to change dates because of new festival competition. The economy and cool weather had a big impacts on the carnival midway. Attendance there was down with fewer visitors spending money on rides and carnival games.