Camp Casey Fest Adds Music, Arts to Chili Cook-off Fundraiser

This year's chili cook-off fundraiser for Camp Casey – a nonprofit that that provides horse-themed activities and riding for kids with cancer – will be held Oct. 15 and feature expanded offerings and a new name.

Camp Casey Fest got an upgrade after the chili cook off behind late last fall didn't produce the desired fundraising outcome.

This year, it will incorporate the , as well as arts and crafts vendors and live music headlined by country music artist Josh Gracin, who was the fourth place finalist during the 2003 season of American Idol.

"We had the chili cook-off and worked with Dino's Lounge and it was an enormous success but it didn't raise the kind of money we needed," Camp Casey Director Molly Reeser told the Ferndale City Council on Monday night.

So, the nonprofit decided to go bigger.

"We can put the same amount of time and work into it and make it bigger," Reeser said. "We had the idea to have Camp Casey Fest."

Camp Casey Fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 15  along East Nine Mile Road, between Woodward Avenue and Bermuda, as well as in the western parking lot of the .

"It'll be an all-day music festival with local artists, local restaurants and having the same idea of a chili cook-off," Reeser said.

Camp Casey has worked extensively with Ferndale's event director Michael Lary and Chief Tim Collins, Reeser said. Lary said during the City Council meeting that the Special Event Committee unanimously approved of Camp Casey Fest.

Other live music acts will include Annabelle Road, John Maison, Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys and more.

The event is scheduled on the same day as the Michigan State University vs. University of Michigan college football game, so Reeser said Camp Casey Fest will provide a big screen TV to broadcast the game.

in Ferndale also will host an official after-party starting at 11 p.m.

Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance, $15 at the door after 5 p.m. or free for kids 10 and younger with a ticketed adult.

All ticket sales benefit Camp Casey.

To purchase tickets, visit www.camp-casey.org/fundraising. Call 877-388-8315, Ext. 2 for more information about volunteering or becoming an artist or food vendor.