The McHenry Rotary club and residents of Gerstad Builders’ Liberty Trails community are counting down the hours until the Blues Brews and BBQ festival kicks off this evening at 5 p.m. Located in Peterson Park, this fun three-day event will feature an incredible line-up of blues bands, delicious food and a wide selection of beer.

Festival hours are as follows:

• Friday, August 1 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, August 2 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, August 3 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Headlining musicians include John Todd, Melvin Taylor, Jimmy Nick and Don’t Tell Mama, Serious Trouble, The Moods, Brother K Band, Steve Ditzell and Blue Lightning, and Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames. Click here for the band schedule.

One thing is for sure, you won’t go hungry at the event, with a variety of classic favorites to choose from like delicious ribs, brisket, corn on the cob, burgers and hot dogs. For adventurous eaters, there will be unique and delightful options like pulled pork pizza and barbecue Chinese riblets. For dessert, ice cream, funnel cake and shaved ice will be among the options to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you’re a craft beer lover, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to quench your thirst at the festival! You won’t want to miss the announcement of winners from the first ever Home Brew competition, judged by The Midnight Carboys Home Brew Club in Crystal Lake and several other local breweries. The 16 categories for the competition include light lager, amber hybrid, stout, Indian Pale Ale, fruit and wood aged brews. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, gold, silver and bronze awards will be presented for the top-notch brews.

There will also be an amateur barbecue cook-off held on Sunday, with contestants entering their best chicken, beef and pork ribs for the chance at being crowned the barbecue king. Be sure to bring your lawn chair or pull up a shady spot under the large festival tent, located in the middle of the action with quick access to the food and beer vendors.

Brews Blues and BBQ is the premier fundraiser for the McHenry Rotary Club, with 100 percent of the proceeds funding the club’s foundation as well as local and international community service efforts. See the McHenry Rotary Club Brews Blues and BBQ website for more details.

Peterson Park is only a short drive away from the new McHenry homes in Liberty Trails. For more information about fun local events in the area or the beautiful homes in this community, visit the Gerstad Builders website today!