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Clear skies and highs in the low 70s forecast a pleasant backdrop for the second Roots 'N' Blues 'N' BBQ Festival, which starts at 5 p.m. Friday with performances by James Hand at the Shelter Insurance stage at Eighth and Cherry streets, Aubrey and Lori Ghent at the Mediacom Peace Park stage and John D'Agostino at the Verizon Wireless Flat Branch Park stage.
Barbecue vendors will open for business about the same time.
- Festival attendees line multiple levels of the parking garage at Eighth and Cherry streets Saturday night during Buddy Guy's performance.
Check out the Missourian's Web site for updated coverage of the event; an overview can also be found in Vox. Head to CoMo Arts, the Missourian’s new arts and entertainment blog, for stories, pictures, audio and video from the whole weekend. Readers can add their own photos from this weekend to the CoMo Arts Flickr group.
We’ll also provide “traffic” posts via Twitter to bring you real-time updates on lines and crowds that can be sent straight to your cell phone. Register on the site, become a follower of CoMissourian and make sure your mobile device is turned on.
Dos and don'ts of this year's festival:
Don't bring glass containers, coolers or pets.
Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, but don't leave chairs unattended in front of the stage as they may impede emergency vehicles.
Do bring cash. There are no Blues Bucks this year.
Do park in any parking structure downtown except for the one at Eighth and Cherry. Or park at the Mizzou Sports Complex on Mick Deaver Drive, just off Stadium Boulevard or at the Hearnes Center. Shuttle service starts at 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and goes to 11:45 p.m. both nights.
Go to the festival's Web site for more information.
Comments
Was it really necessary for them to close half of downtown at 9 am this morning for this?!
I felt that was a huge inconvenience for everyone and very obnoxious.
Why don't they do this festival on Saturday and Sunday and not impede traffic on a work day?
I agree. I tried to get to the post office on Walnut from campus and it took me half an hour driving around empty closed off streets. No matter what time they closed off all these streets, it would have created traffic problems on a Friday, but a 3pm or staggered closing down of streets would have worked. A Saturday/Sunday festival would be best.
I also noticed no traffic cops, leaving confused drivers to fend for themselves.
They didn't even have a detour set up. With people coming out of town for this who are already confused, that makes the traffic problems even worse.
Everyone I've talked to who lives and works downtown has been seriously inconvenienced by this.
Unfortunately, Columbia is becoming less and less a user-friendly town.
This has been in the news for quite some time. They have requested you check their web site for more info for quite some time. It has been in and out of the local papers online for quite some time. It has been on TV for quite some amount of time. If you did not check all of the above for the most updated info and you worked downtown how can you complain. It was online,on TV,in the local papers they deliver plus online as well. I sympathize with you all but not checking the most current info is no excuse I am sorry to have to tell you.
Oh but you say I do not understand.
Then maybe you should read more about the event information next time.
See ya downtown enjoying a great time I know my GF and I will be.