GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Record Store Day 2024 is happening on Saturday and local record stores are ready for it.
The idea for the annual event was created in 2007 between a group of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate independently-owned record stores across the U.S. and internationally.
The very first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008.
Now, the day is celebrated in independently-owned record stores worldwide.
Artists have special vinyl and CD releases and other promotional products made exclusively for the event, usually in small quantities.
People will form lines outside the stores for hours before they open — oftentimes camping out as early as 4 a.m. — to make sure they get their hands on the exclusive vinyl or CD they're after.
Stores will host cook-outs, give away free food, invite performers and more.
In Grand Haven, the owner of Off The Record, Benji Stone, said their cafe will open at 5 a.m. and they'll be handing out free pastries to fuel everyone waiting in line.
The record store opens at 8 a.m., but Stone said Carvers will also be coming from the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids to give away free walking tacos all day.
"It's an extravaganza all day for us," Stone said.
Stone said the thing he's most excited about when it comes to the big event is the people they host it for.
"Record Store Day for us is like a huge moment to be able to give back to the community and give back to our shop family," Stone said. "We're not here without people coming in here and supporting us. So, I look at Record Store Day as a day to give back to them, make sure that I got all the titles everybody wants in here."
Although Record Store Day is Saturday, Off The Record drew in some crowds on Friday for the release of Taylor Swift's new album, "The Tortured Poets Department."
People of all ages came into the shop to snag Swift's record, including Mary Ellen Cook, who's in her 70's.
"I'm a Swiftie," Cook said. "...I saw her in person years ago at Van Andel when she was about 17 opening for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and she did a great job then, and I thought, 'I think she's gonna go places,' and she sure has. So, at my favorite record store Off The Record in Grand Haven, Michigan."
Despite Lilliana Wilkinson being much younger, she shares the same passion for Swift. She was also there for the new record and said she's been a Swiftie "since forever."
The fun doesn't stop with album releases and limited edition drops.
Off The Record will be hosting live concerts in their parking lot throughout the summer.
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