“We just saw the signs on the side of the road, and felt adventurous,” said Ken Roberts, of Hamilton County’s Springfield Township. “Great theme — Blues, Brews and Barbecue. You can’t go wrong with that theme.”
The event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of West Chester and Liberty townships.
“It’s going great,” said Sandy Likes, marketing chairwoman for the club. “Last night we had a really good crowd. After the rain stopped, people came down and had a really great time. They enjoyed the bands, and we brought in Southern Avenue from Memphis. They did a great, great job.”
The club has been putting on the event seven years, and this weekend’s event was the fourth year in its current location, the Square at Union Centre. Proceeds of the event ($5 admission, with kids under age 12 free) go to the club, which pays them to charities, local organizations and scholarships.
The club has about 50 members, who were out in force, with their spouses, children and neighbors to put on the event.
Barbecue vendors included After Hours Barbecue, a company operated by family and neighbors from Orrville, Ohio, about 20 miles southwest of Akron, which displayed a large collection of tall trophies from past events.
“We go state to state every weekend,” said Josh Crall of the company. “We go to the upper side of Chicago, and the furthest we go the other way is Buffalo, N.Y., and everywhere in between.”
“They’re all fun,” he said. “You get to meet all kinds of people.”
The event ran 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. Sunday was to be clean-up day, with friends and others invited to help, Likes said.
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