A new festival is launching in Cleveland, Tenn., this weekend that combines three key ingredients of a successful event: barbecue, blues and bluegrass.
The first BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival will be held Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Greenway Park and Pavilion, 755 Raider Drive, in Cleveland.
This free, family-friendly event will include food vendors, live music by five bands, custom motorcycle show with awards and about 60 arts and crafts exhibitors.
The new event is organized by Target Marketing Media, operated by Tina and Harold Wilkins. Target put on a similar festival in Dalton, Ga., last year, which was so successful that the Cleveland location is being added.
All vendors will provide a door prize. Tina Wilkins says that every visitor will receive a door prize ticket as they come into the park, so all guests have a chance to win.
Wilkins says six barbecue vendors have signed up, but this is not a barbecue competition. Five of them are participating in the People's Choice contest. For a small fee, visitors will receive a People's Choice ballot and a plate holding five numbered cups of barbecue for a blind taste test. Visitors check the numbered box of the barbecue they like best, ballots will be tallied and the award presented.
Entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. with a performance by a Cleveland dance academy. Music begins at noon when the Grandview Pickers take the stage. They will be followed by John Brown and Co., Picking Crows, Blues Matter and Tyson Leamon and the White Line Drifters.
Proceeds from the festival will benefit projects around Cleveland and Cleveland High School.
In case of bad weather, the rain date is May 19.
For more information: 423-486-7597.