User:RM2KX/Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival

The Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival is an annual, three-day music event held each fall since 2007 in Columbia, Missouri. Originally held in downtown Columbia near the University of Missouri and within Peace Park on its campus, the festival moved to Stephens Lake Park in 2013 and has taken place there ever since. A BBQ contest was a part of the festival for many years, until its inclusion ended with the venue change, but food vendors continue to take part in the event and BBQ remains a staple offering. The festival also hosts a 10K run, visual art throughout the park, and other smaller events.

History
In 2007, Boone County National Bank first hosted the event, as a celebration of its 150th anniversary. More than 70,000 people attended. Since then, the festival has become Columbia's largest draw for tourists, with visitors from 43 states in 2015.

Downtown
The festival initially took place in downtown Columbia, near Boone County National's primary bank in the city, at locations on and near the University of Missouri campus. MU's Peace Park, on the southern edge of the downtown area held a main stage, and a second was at the corner of Seventh and Locust Streets a block away. A third, free-admission stage was located in Flat Branch Park to the west. Businesses reported mixed sales results during the event. Free shuttles have been offered from downtown garages since the festival's move to the east.

Stephens Lake Park
In 2013, the event debuted in its new location, Stephens Lake Park. That year, attendance dropped from 52,000 to 22,000, but still brought the city 1.2 million dollars, according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 116-acre park's openness and sloping grounds allow for distinct sound between stages and visibility from many angles.

Performers
The festival has hosted as many as 30 bands, offering the sounds of country music, folk, bluegrass, rock, soul, in addition to traditional roots and blues. Among its past guests are the Avett Brothers, Sam Bush, and Blues Traveler.

Blues in the Schools
The festival is a sponsor of Blues in the Schools, a program that brings blues music and related lessons to local children who might have limited exposure to the subject. It is operated by the non-profit Roots N Blues Foundation and is affiliated with The Blues Foundation. A presentation by area schoolchildren, featuring musician and educator T.J. Wheeler, took place in Flat Branch Park on the final day of the festival, while it was held downtown. It has since been held at the Stephens Lake Park amphitheater.

BBQ
The festival originally hosted a sponsor-judged contest for invited barbecue experts. The annual food contest ended in 2013 when the festival moved to Stephens Lake. However, barbecue continues to be offered by some of the many food vendors. Others serve craft beers from local breweries, and in 2016 the venue added a "sober tent" for non-alcoholic beverages.

Art
During the festival, the park also displays various works from local artists, and large puppets are seen dancing over the crowd during some of the musical performances.