Blues & BBQ Festival for Better Housing features 6 Bands this Saturday

By The Thirst Team

Folks are traveling from far and wide to catch the Blues & BBQ Festival for Better Housing this Saturday in Edgewater.

Six bands, incredible food, artisan vendors, and non-stop drinks will keep this year’s soul-themed festival rocking throughout the day.

The event has become a destination festival for at least two vacationers. Tina and Ashley are friends who live in Bend, Oregon, and San Diego, respectively. “I am so excited for the festival,” Tina says. “I plan to eat my weight in brisket!”

The self-described besties meet each other for a vacation every year. “We’ve known each other for about 15 years and a few years ago Ashley moved to San Diego,” Tina says. “Since then we have made a yearly tradition of meeting somewhere neither of us has ever been. I knew for sure I wanted to do Denver this year and when we were trying to figure out our timing, I found the festival online. So we planned our dates to include it. Traveling is always very much about food for us, and BBQ is one of our favorite kinds of food. It’s a big plus that it’s for such a great cause that is actually quite dear to me.”

After 25 years of fundraising for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and other affordable housing options, Blues & BBQ Festival Coordinator Ranger Miller said the event continues to grow and help those in need. “With the help of dedicated volunteers, sponsors, and our loyal patrons, we’ve been able to donate more than $500,000 over the past 25 years,” Miller said. “That money goes directly to putting walls and roofs up for people who are working hard but need just a little bit of help.”

After raising and donating $30,000 last year, the goal was bumped to $50,000 this year.

The weather forecast is excellent for an incredible day of local soul, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

Patrons can expect to find folks who love great music and love supporting a great cause, such as affordable housing. Some families and friends have returned to the festival every year for two decades. Leashed, non-biting furry friends are also invited.

This year’s music lineup is:

11 a.m. May Be Fern

12:30 p.m. Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers

2 p.m. Pneumatics

3:30 p.m. Knifty Kick

5 p.m. The Duke Street Kings

6:40 p.m. Wild Love Tigress (just returned from a wildly successful Texas tour!)

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 15, at Citizens Park Pavillion, 5560 W. 24th Ave., in Edgewater. Admission is $10 to the park. Food and drinks are extra. Children under the age of 12 are free. No outside alcohol is permitted. Beer and wine are available for sale. Chairs and picnic food are also welcome.

For more information, contact Ranger Miller at 720-480-4477 or dskranger@aol.com.