ManilowMania

ManilowMania is a music festival hosted by the province of Maricopa, held annually in March or May. It celebrates the music of Barry Manilow and his influence on Maricopan culture—particularly his inspiration in the naming of Maricopa's provincial government.

Origin

The first occurrence of the festival was in 2014, when a tourist in search of a "cure for the dreaded Manilow Earworm" posted a video of the song "Copacabana." The earworm spread to other Maricopans, and soon other Barry Manilow songs were being shared in an attempt to dislodge it.

The original tourist dubbed the event "ManilowFest" and secretly vowed to repeat the event yearly. The name was changed to "ManilowMania" in 2015 and featured more emphasis on the use of the letter M.

Observances

• March 2014: Inaugural year
• May 2015: "The Man, the Music, The Mystique"