Loved this FREE event at a gorgeous North Liberty park. Recognized some familiar names on the vending and music lineups and figured I'd make the drive from Marion to support my friends. I knew it was a longstanding community event, but didn't realize the scope of production that goes into it. The stage is MASSIVE and they had some really cool artists performing throughout the day. There was plenty of room to set up a blanket or chair, sip your beer, and enjoy the music. (It did start to fill up quickly in anticipation of the last two acts, so grab your spot early!) There were stations with fans blowing cool mists, free ice water tanks, and a few places to get out of the sun. The Blues & BBQ sign is a great photo opp. In addition to the beer tent by the stage, there were about ten vendors or so offering a variety of sips and bites. A little something for everyone, including multiple bbq options, tacos, shaved ice, and ice cream. I know the beer tent is a big factor in keeping this free, so it would be great if there was more than one non-alch option (and ideally root beer wouldn't be the same price as a beer - say $4 or $5 instead of $7). All in all, really great community event.
I heard a rumor the park is being renovated to add shade and other amenities, so next year there will not be a festival. I'm sure it'll come back bigger and better than ever! read more