We used to have this huge "North America's Largest Free Country Music Festival" each summer at Hart Plaza downtown, the "Downtown Hoe Down." Few big headliners -- but it was filled with the up-and-comers, many of whom now are C&W superstars. Thing is, the Downtown Hoe Down was the biggest public intoxication event of the year, with lots of arrests for the same reasons as those in Green Bay. People pissing in the privacy bushes, passed out face down on concrete, hollering at the young women to show us your tattoos, etc. My Detroit cop friends HATED IT until it got downsized and stuck inside some civic hall or smaller public park under the sponsorship of the local C&W power radio station a few years back.
We still have this huge "North America's Largest Free Jazz Festival" each summer at Hart Plaza downtown, the Detroit Jazz Festival (nee Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival until we couldn't afford the $50,000 naming rights fee). Each year, 250,000 or so get together over Labor Day weekend to listen to a lot of top names, local stars and emerging talents. Thing's been going on 40 years or so. What's different is that my Detroit cop friends have not made even one arrest.
I kid you not.
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