Monday, August 30, 2010

#12: The Barbeque and Blues Festival

Everyone wants to take advantage of the gorgeous South Bend summers to gather as a community at the various parks around town.  Seitz Park, just off the East Race Trail near Colfax Ave (and the Emporium restaurant), was bustling with festival-goers Sunday afternoon for the first annual Barbeque and Blues Festival.

This festival, however, had a philanthropic bent -- profits benefited the St. Joe County Bridges out of Poverty, a non-profit organization that sponsors programs that break the cycle of poverty.  As you would expect at such a festival, there was both BBQ and blues.  Half a barbequed chicken sold for five dollars, and beverages and dessert was only a dollar.

I did not plan on attending this festival (although my love of BBQ prevents me from ever being a perfect vegetarian), but rather, I literally ran into it.  There was no escaping the huge crowd and groovy music on my afternoon run by the river.  Many people strolled along the riverwalk, checking out each other and listening to the music.  Others brought lawn chairs and set up across the river to watch the flow of humanity.  I believe local favorites, The Oblates of Blues, played a set and other musicians spun their tracks as well.  Not bad for the first year.

When to go: 12 - 6pm
Where: Seitz Park
How to get there: Try biking on the East Race Trail

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