Phish Fans Leave Balloon Trash Behind After Grand Rapids Show

I'm generally not one to get on the internet and talk trash, but this morning as I was leaving work, I noticed there was a TON of it all over the sidewalks in Downtown Grand Rapids.

I've always believed that music is the great unifier, helping to bring people together in ways they would never come together without it. Politics and personal beliefs no longer matter for fans when their favorite artists take the stage, they're just at the show to have a great time.

That's why I was excited to see that the iconic jam band, Phish, was having a two-night appearance in Grand Rapids. It's their first time here since 1998. Awesome news for locals, and of course, all of these visitors will get to see our city and how great it truly is.

But... the mess they left behind? Well, it was pretty trashy. Phish fans are already known for their love of nitrous oxide, a gas that can be used in a 'party drug' capacity (although it's recommended that you don't by pretty much every medical professional), and while I'd heard the rumors about the balloons they leave behind... I had no idea it was going to be this bad.

It looks like this for several blocks around Ottawa and Monroe, and it's disappointing to see. It's not just an eye sore, it's a danger too. Unless someone goes around picking all of these balloons up, they're likely to end up in our waterways and hurt our wildlife.

Read More: Residents of Grand Rapids Are Totally Unprepared For Looming Phish Invasion

I don't blame the band, anyone who planned the show, or even the people who responsibly attended this event for this happening. I just wish people would be a little more respectful of their surroundings. We have so many trash cans in downtown Grand Rapids- it would be easy to do whatever you want without leaving a mess behind.

While I hope our out-of-town Phish friends enjoyed their stay, it would have been nice if they didn't leave such a mess behind. Plus- We have tons of the cheapest and best legal marijuana in the county- maybe try that out instead next time.

But hey, I get why everyone wants to see Phish live, check out these photos from when they were at the Sphere in Vegas...