The BBQ and Brew Festival expands to two blocks of Historic Downtown Yuma when it returns 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 10 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 11.
Featured entertainment this year focuses on the theme of country music from the 90s. Ricochet, featuring hits such as “Daddy’s Money” and “What Do I Know,” leads Saturday’s lineup along with Andy Griggs, famous for “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely,” “I’ll Go Crazy” and others.
Young Guns will headline Friday night’s lineup.
Other performers include Downtime, Milepost 30, Faith Lynn, Dancers Workshop, and line dancers.
Wendy McKay will perform the “Star Spangled Banner” at noon on Saturday, followed at 1 p.m. by a steak cook-off between Mayor Douglas Nicholls and one of the competing barbecue teams.
The full lineup of performances is here.
“We have outgrown Main Street and it’s only our fourth BBQ and Brew Festival!” said Yuma Festivals Coordinator Joanne Fiser. “This event will cover Madison Avenue as well as Main Street, and provide a new footprint for a downtown block party.”
All ages are welcome to attend for free.
Additional attractions include outdoor yard games, petting zoo, free face painting, varieties of festival foods and cold beer. A Kidz Zone with new attractions is $5 for unlimited play.
The event features the Best in the Desert Southwest cooking contest, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), where registered participants will compete to earn points toward the KCBS Team of the Year World Champion.
This year’s sponsors include Downtown Yuma Merchants Association, Paradise Casino and Quechan Casino, Lutes Casino, El Dorado Broadcasters, Monster Media, Radio Amigo, Swire Coca-Cola, Yuma International Airport, Shay Oil, B&E Services, ABC5, Telemundo, Signmasters, Jack Daniels and Rancho Melendrez.