For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Blues, Brews & BBQ is Back and Better than Ever!

REVISED

 

 
Westland, MI -  Restaurants are lining up to participate in Westland's signature event of the year, Blues, Brews and BBQ at Thomas H. Brown Central City Park. Being held August 5-6 to take advantage of warm weather, Blues, Brews and BBQ will feature several talented musicians, all American  barbecue  cuisine from area restaurants and a selection of Michigan craft beers.  The event will begin on Friday, August 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Parking for this event will be free this year at the 18th District Court, John Glenn High School and the William D. Ford Career Technical Center on Marquette and at the Westland Friendship Center, located at 1119 Newburgh Rd.  Free shuttle buses will be provided from the Marquette Rd. and Friendship Center locations on Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  
 
This year the event has added professional pit-master BBQ'ers Hill Billy Bone BBQ, Heaven on a Roll, Stick a Pig in it, Harold Ole Daddy BBQ, Smoke Ring BBQ and Uncle Bebe's BBQ with their professional on-site, slow cooked, authentic BBQ.  They will be joined by returning local favorites Famous Daves, Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse.  For some additions outside the tradition BBQ realm, we have Harvest Kettle Corn, Detroit Mini Donut and Lemonade, Heavenly Hot Dog and On the Border.  As in previous years, the event will also feature a wide selection of Michigan craft beers, and soft drinks.  New this year will be the addition of a wine selection.
 
On Friday night, attendees will be treated to some of the area's most notable Blues acts with Dirty Basement Blues kicking it off at 5:30 p.m.  Kenny Parker and Jim Mccarty take the stage from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and then Friday's headlining act Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials will wrap it up from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The fun rolls right into Saturday afternoon with Jeff Hoagland Band playing at noon.  From 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. we will have Roadside Rick and the Breakdowns, followed by Detroit Blues Legends with the Boa Constrictors from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and then Thornetta Davis takes the stage from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  The final act is the highly anticipated return of Westland's own American Idol finalist Josh Gracin who will perform from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  

On Saturday, August 6, the All American BBQ Throwdown is being presented by the Westland Area Jaycees.  Do you have what it takes to be crowned Westland's BBQ Champion?  This year there are professional and amateur divisions and different specialty categories, such as ribs, chicken, pork and brisket.   Registration for this year's All American BBQ Throwdown is now open!  The event starts at 11 a.m. and is open to all backyard BBQ'ers.  Registration fee for this event is $30 and you can get more information and register by visiting www.cityofwestland.com.
 
But wait....there's more!  As a part of the City of Westland's 50th Anniversary Celebration the event closes with the largest fireworks display in the city's history on Saturday at 10 p.m.  This will be a musically choreographed fireworks display that you don't want to miss!

"This is the 6th year for Blues, Brews and BBQ and it just continues to get bigger and better each year;" commented Mayor William R. Wild. "In addition to being a fun way to spend an August weekend, the goal of the event is the fundraising generated through food, beverage and swag sales that will benefit a number of Westland charities including the Goodfellows, the Westland Community Foundation and the Westland Historical Society.  Proceeds from this event benefit local civic organizations to support their charitable work locally in Westland.  To date, this event has raised and given back to the community over $150,000" 

Stay up to date on all the latest news and updates about this landmark event by visiting www.cityofwestland.com or call our Blues, Brews and BBQ hotline at (734)793-9333.
 
A big thank you to this year's sponsors for making The 2016 Blues, Brews and BBQ event possible!

Ritter GIS
Wayne County Community College District
North Brothers Ford
Gordon Chevrolet
Michigan Chiropractic Specialist
Parkside Dental
Westland Car Care
Garden City Hospital
Midwestern Sanitation Inc
Delta Dental
Windstream
Comerica Bank
Retirement Plan Advisors
ETNA Supply
Whitty Protective Services
Westland Police Lts & Sgts Assoc.
Independent Carpet One
Comcast
Zeal Credit Union
Michigan Humane Society
Fauson Bohn, LLP
Synergy Environmental
Marquette House
Universal Learning Academy
Jack Demmer Ford
Actron Integrated Security Systems Inc.
Bendzinski $ Co.
Denha Properties
Harder Home Improvement
Laurencelle Properties



For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.
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Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City.  Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas.  The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.


 

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities.  Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based.  They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.


 

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.


 

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more.  One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.


 

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.  Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.


 

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles.  Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.


 

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region.  Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.


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