Free, family-friendly fun at Blues & BBQ is coming Saturday to North Liberty

Everyone is invited to enjoy live blues music, kids’ activities, barbecue, craft beer, fireworks and more at North Liberty Blues & BBQ on Saturday, July 12, from noon until 10 p.m. at North Liberty’s Centennial Park. Admission and activities are free.
The eighth-annual festival, presented by South Slope Cooperative Communications, will be held rain or shine. Guests will find free parking for cars and bicycles in Centennial Park, located at 1565 St. Andrews Drive, just west of Jones Boulevard in North Liberty.
Live music begins at noon on The University of Iowa Community Credit Union main stage.  The legendary Hal Reed will play at 8 p.m. following musical guests The Curtis Hawkins Band, The FunkDaddies, Kevin Burt and The Sidewinders. Admission is free and open to all ages.
A diversity of free activities for kids of all ages are planned. Exciting inflatable rides, including obstacle courses, a giant slide, and other inflatable games, plus a petting zoo and fun with the North Liberty Fire Department will be available in the Rage Grafix Playing Ground. The brand-new Shive-Hattery Everyday Arts Pavilion will feature arts-inspired fun with the Iowa Children’s Museum, STEAM Room Fab Lab, the UNESCO City of Literature and many others. Kids’ activities are scheduled from noon to 7 p.m.
The festival also features a variety of barbecue pit masters and styles, with 18 vendors serving mouth-watering barbecue and other delicious treats along Adam Schechinger State Farm food vendor alley from noon until at least dark. Guests can vote for their favorite in the Press-Citizen BBQ Cook Off People’s Choice, with a judged contest held at 4:30.
Beers from the best Iowa craft brewers, including Backpocket, Confluence, Toppling Goliath, Sutliff Cider, Bent River, Millstream and Peace Tree, are available in the Veridian Credit Union beverage garden. There is no cover charge to the centrally located, all-ages garden.
The fun-filled day will end with a bang as the Eastern Iowa Airport fireworks display will be launched at 9:45 p.m. from the festival grounds.
For details and more information about North Liberty Blues & BBQ, visit northlibertyblues.org.
Volunteer spots are still available. To sign up, simply go to northlibertyblues.org/volunteer and select a job and time, and then check in at the MidWestOne Bank volunteer and information tent on Saturday.