Two days of Jazz, Blues and BBQ comes to Starved Rock Country

This Friday and Saturday (September 10 and 11) mark the return of two of LaSalle’s most popular street festivals, BBQ-n-Blues and Jazz n’ the Street! This pair of celebrations brings amazing food vendors and top notch musical acts, right to the heart of historic downtown LaSalle.

The fun starts with BBQ-n-Blues, running from 4 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. on Friday. This festival is one of the best evenings of curated live Blues in Starved Rock Country has to offer. LaSalle’s First Street will be taken over by four top-notch blues and blues rock acts: Ivy Ford, Steve Cerqua & Crossroads, Ghost Town Blues and The Jimmys.

While the music is second to none, Barbecue is real the heart of Friday’s festivities. A panel of judges will sample the works of more than a dozen amateur BBQ-ers, coming from all over Illinois. The rib cookoff will start at 7 a.m., and contestants will have until 6 p.m. to submit their slowly smoked masterpieces, with the cookoff winners being announced at 8 p.m.

There will also be a number of professional BBQ vendors on site, not competing in the event: The Dog House, 9th Street Pub, Lil Mad Cafe Gourmet, La Salle VFW, Lil Bella’s and Haze Smokehouse (a former winner of the amateur LaSalle BBQ competition, turned Pro)!

Saturday’s festival takes a turn towards Jazz. Jazz N’ the Street, which runs from 4 p.m. -10:30 p.m., will feature a stacked line-up of nationally touring Jazz talent and a full beer garden.

Main stage acts include the IVCC Jazz Ensemble, The Flat Cats and Ricco, with the locally popular Ben & Kate headlining two sets on the second stage.

Saturday’s food vendors will include Haze Smokehouse, The Dog House, 9th Street Pub, Lil Mad Cafe Gourmet, La Salle VFW, Lil Bella’s. Wine tastings, craft beers and cocktails from Peru’s Star Union Spirits will be provided in the beer garden tent, throughout the night.

Fireworks will close out this 2-night event at 10 p.m. As with BBQ N’ Blues, Jazz N’ the Street offers free admission and free parking. All ages are welcome, but pets will not be permitted on the festival grounds. This event is rain or shine!

For more info on BBQ-n-Blues and Jazz n’ the Street, visit: Here

Be sure to follow the LaSalle Business Association on Facebook for more upcoming fests: facebook.com/LaSalleBusinessAssociation

BBQ-n-Blues and Jazz n’ the Street

600 1st Street

LaSalle, IL 61301

www.lasallebusiness.org