Blues, Brews, Barbecue Festival on August 7-8, 2026

Where: Thomas H Brown Central City Park 36601 Ford Road Westland, Michigan

WESTLAND TURNS UP THE HEAT: BLUES, BREWS & BARBECUE FESTIVAL RETURNS AUG. 7-8

· Westland’s signature summer festival returns with two unforgettable days of FREE live entertainment, food and fun

· 30 live performances featuring nationally touring headliners Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Jovin Webb and Chambers & DesLauriers

· Friday night lights up the sky with a spectacular Drone Light Show, while Saturday closes with a dazzling fireworks finale

· Cornhole players can compete in social and competitive tournaments for cash prizes

· Free admission and free parking for all guests

WESTLAND, Mich. – The City of Westland proudly announced today the return of Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival on Aug. 7-8, 2026, at Thomas H. Brown Central City Park, 36601 Ford Rd. This beloved annual tradition features two days of food, music and family-friendly entertainment in the heart of Westland.

From the irresistible aroma of slow-smoked barbecue to the electrifying sounds of live music filling the park, Blues, Brews & Barbecue has become the can’t-miss summer event in western Wayne County and beyond. Best of all, admission and parking are completely free, making it the perfect destination for families, music lovers and foodies alike. “The Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival has become one of Westland’s premier summer traditions, bringing together residents and visitors for an unforgettable weekend of outstanding live music, great food and fun, family-friendly experiences,” said Mayor Kevin Coleman, City of Westland. “The event showcases the energy, diversity and community spirit that make Westland such a great place to live, work and visit.”

BLUES | Live Music The festival will feature an electrifying and diverse lineup of artists spanning blues, rock, soul, R&B and Americana, highlighted by nationally touring acts including Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Jovin Webb and Chambers & DesLauriers.

Friday night kicks off with School of Rock Canton/Farmington Hills, where talented local young musicians will perform classic rock, R&B and pop favorites on the Soaring Eagle Stage. Detroit native and award-winning R&B soul artist Alise King will follow with powerhouse vocals and dynamic stage presence that has earned her opportunities to perform alongside legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and George Clinton.

International Blues Challenge champions Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers will bring their Southern-fried blues rock energy to the stage Friday evening before Blues Hall of Famers Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials close out the night with their legendary Chicago blues sound.

Saturday’s lineup will feature the soulful Americana and alt-country sounds of Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils, whose music draws inspiration from gospel, Texas blues, Stax soul and Appalachian roots. Headlining performances feature Jovin Webb, whose appearance on “American Idol” helped launch his rising career rooted in Louisiana blues and soul, followed by Chambers & DesLauriers, the acclaimed husband-and-wife duo known for their passionate fusion of blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll.

2026 Blues, Brew and BarbeCue Music Schedule

THE BARBECUE & OTHER TASTY TREATS Festival goers can savor some of the best barbecue from professional pitmasters throughout the weekend, including Westland’s own Famous Dave’s. Returning favorites and past competition champions House of Barbecue, Old Dad’s and Rib King will compete for top honors, while Marco’s and Meltdown Creamery return with award-winning sides and desserts. Beyond the barbecue, attendees can indulge in a variety of festival fare and carnival classics ranging from elephant ears to deep-fried treats.

The 2026 expanded food lineup includes:

Big Bo's Grill

Boss Hog

Chubz Smoke House

Drunken Rooster

Famous Dave’s

Harvest Kettle Corn

Heaven on a Roll

House of Barbecue

Lori's Festive Catering

Los Perrones

Marco's

Maui Mike’s

Meltdown Creamery

Mr. Deep Fried

Mr. Pitmaster

Old Dad's BBQ

Rib King

Stick A Pig In It

ADDITIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Drone Light Show & Fireworks Each night will conclude with a spectacular finale. A drone light presented by North Brothers Ford show will take place at 10:45 p.m. Friday evening, and the biggest fireworks display in Westland's history, presented by Westland Car Care, will light up the sky at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Brews | Beer Tent The event will feature a giant beer tent with a wide variety of brews to enjoy. Options include domestic beers like Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, as well as craft selections such as Golden Road Mango Cart, Goose Island IPA, Landshark, Kona Big Wave and Stella Artois. Hard seltzers include NÜTRL Black Cherry, Lime, Orange and Pineapple Vodka Seltzers, plus ready-to-drink cocktails such as Cutwater Lime, Mango and Strawberry Margaritas and a Lemon Drop Martini.

Corn Hole Competition New this year is the Westland Blues, Brews and Barbecue Cornhole Tournament. On Saturday, Aug. 8 the tournament will run from noon to 3 p.m. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and is $50 per team of two, with two divisions, one competitive and one backyard casual. Teams compete for more than $2,000 in cash and prizes, including an overnight stay at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant. Visit bluesbrewsbarbecue.com/cornhole to register.

Barbecue Competition BBQ enthusiasts can look forward to a barbecue competition, where the “3 Best BBQ'ers” will be awarded plaques. The first-place winner will have the distinct honor of having their name engraved on the City Hall trophy. Voting starts at 5 p.m. Friday and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with the winners being announced on stage.

Kids Fun Zone The Kids Fun Zone promises a vibrant array of activities and interactive entertainment designed especially for children. Young attendees can look forward to exhilarating inflatables, creative arts and crafts, captivating magic shows, live music and more. With a wide variety of fun-filled options, kids of all ages are sure to be entertained and delighted. The Westland Fire Department, along with one of their fire trucks, will make a special appearance on Saturday, Aug 8 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Event Hours, Location and Parking Festival hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, with Drone Show at 10:45 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, with fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

Thomas H. Brown Central Park is located at 36601 Ford Rd. The event is conveniently located on Ford Road with ample shade and easy walking distance from Tattan Park. Limited parking is available and free shuttle service will run throughout the day every 15 minutes from the parking lots at John Glenn High School, William D. Ford Vocational Technical School and Senior Friendship Center. Admission and parking are free. Please note that pets (except service animals), outside food or beverages and soliciting will not be permitted.

Sponsors City of Westland Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Bidigare Contractors, Inc., Wayne-Westland Federal Credit Union, PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care, LLC, Highland Landscape & Snowplowing, Inc., Axiom Construction Services Group, Wayne County Community College District, Westland Car Care, LIV Cannabis and North Brothers Ford. For more information, visit bluesbrewsbarbecue.com or call 734-467-7920.