With summer comes block parties and festivals. This year is no different, especially in Michigan, where some beloved events are set to include a cannabis lounge. JARS Cannabis and We Are Culture Creators (WACC) have curated a weed-friendly pop-up at the Movement Festival this weekend. The cannabis brand is also set to host a lounge at the upcoming Royal Oak Taco Fest.
JARS Cannabis is a multi-state cannabis operator with a chain of dispensaries across Michigan, Arizona, and Colorado. Chief Operating Officer Raymond Abro shared more with GreenState about why the brand sponsors these community events.
“We’re drawn to opportunities that reflect the same energy and creative grit that define our brand and our customers,” Abro explained. “Movement and Taco Fest are two very different events, but both have strong local ties and an authentic sense of community.”
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Moving at the Movement Festival
The Movement Festival is one of the longest-running dance festivals in Detroit that honors the global impact the city has made on music and culture. This year, it takes place in Hart Plaza. It features six stages, including the headliner Movement Stage, an all-Detroit stage, and the Waterfront stage sponsored by JARS. The brand has also executed two activations over the three-day party.
People can party on a double-decker container and the rooftop viewing deck of the Field of Dreams on festival grounds. This year will also feature an off-site retail pop-up. The Trap is a satellite dispensary where Movement attendees can pop out to purchase products. They have to find an off-site location to safely consume them. The space will have the full range of products available for festival goers and passersby over the age of 21.
While JARS sponsored the Waterfront stage, it is curated by WACC. WACC is a media collective rooted in Detroit culture with a mission to uplift young men of color. The group tapped into the artists and sounds that fuel the city, and plans to bring that energy with the talent set to perform.
“Though we have some amazing international talent sharing that weekend, we wanted to focus on Detroit culture, DJs, and music,” WACC director Reyespoetry said. “So to us, the goal was to double down into what the Detroit music scene offers, and that’s amazing music, production, and vibes.”
Light up and chow down at the Taco Fest
JARS trusted WACC to curate the entire vibe and has supported the collective and other creative work in Detroit, like food. Where the Movement Festival this weekend centers on music and dance, the Taco Festival focuses on good eats.
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The Taco Fest comes to Royal Oaks once again, July 3-6. This year will feature 50 taquerias, a Fro-Zone of ice-cold margaritas, and three stages of all-ages entertainment like Lucha Libre wrestling. The JARS lounge will not be for people of all ages, but those over 21 can buy and consume cannabis between tacos and margs.
“We’ve built in shaded seating, live music, and brand-led moments that keep the energy up without pulling focus,” Abro said. “It’s not just a place to pass through. It gives people a reason to stick around.”
These fun events do not come without lots of effort behind the scenes. The Trap took months of collaboration between JARS and Detroit city officials to keep everything compliant and fun. These efforts come in hopes that this is the first of many large-scale cannabis collaborations at mainstream events.
Movement Festival passes start at $365 for general admission and offer VIP at a price premium. Taco Fest tickets are $6 until June 1st, when they rise to $10. On July 1st, they will be 12. Children under three can get in for free.
