The Good Beans Cafe invites the Flint community out to Goodstock ‘23

FLINT, Michigan — Keeping a cafe or any small business afloat is harder than ever these days with ever-rising production costs, staffing shortages, and other hurdles to overcome. It’s a feat The Good Beans Cafe (328 N Grand Traverse St.) has managed to do for 23 years, and for that, they’re celebrating.

Honoring the 20th anniversary of their Goodstock festival, Good Beans Cafe is welcoming the community to its cafe for a free, family-friendly, one-day festival on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3-9 p.m. 

Good Beans Cafe founder, Ken Van Wagoner, says the Goodstock event came from the hope of adding another creation to his local cafe, inspired by newfound creative types. 

“In the spirit of Woodstock, the Goodstock dream was born,” he says. “Goodstock began as a simple plan to give the Flint community an outdoor activity that encompassed arts and the people that enjoyed it. Goodstock '23 is still about just that, but also more as the event has blossomed into a day full of community participation and support.”

Van Wagoner’s favorite part about the annual event is seeing how it has organically grown over the years. “It has become its own energy and that is because of the people that attend and help pull it together,” he says. “I could never thank everyone enough for taking my canvas and adding their energy to it.”
Promotional flier for Goodstock ‘23.
Goodstock ‘23 will take place under the tent on the north lawn (328 North Grand Traverse). The event includes an outdoor concert featuring four performers, various vendors, food trucks, and other activities. The event is sponsored by The Greater Flint Arts Council and made possible by other volunteers.

The musical lineup includes Slippy Cat, the Flint Rocks Youth Empowerment Music Camp (FRYE), Flint School of Performing Arts (FsoPA), and Flint rock group, LEROY.

Slippy Cat is a five-piece group featuring reimagined deliveries of old-style iconic arrangements. FRYE features six different groups of kids in their band creations from camp. FsoPA features intermediate and advanced students performing different classical and musical theater pieces on violin, piano, and vocals. 

The headlining band, LEROY, features genre-bending songs, danceable grooves, and musical improv – taking the stage at 6:45 p.m.

Food vendors include Yvette’s Tacos, The Local Grocer, and Pristine Harvest Incorporated. The Good Beans Cafe will also be open during the event, providing espresso beverages and non-coffee drinks.

Parking is free and guests are welcome to bring their own chairs, but some will be provided. The free event takes place rain or shine. 

Van Wagoner looks forward to watching the community come together to enjoy the charismatic atmosphere. “Goodstock has become a culmination of many of the things I dreamed about for The Good Beans Cafe, further defining our mission statement of constantly supporting community, culture, and the arts.”