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Release Date: June 25,2024

City of Akron’s Lock 3 Releases Full Schedule for Rib, White, and Blue Festival

City will have downtown and neighborhood fireworks on Fourth of July   

Akron, Ohio, June 25, 2024  — The city’s annual Rib White & Blue festival returns to Downtown Akron this year from Wednesday, July 3 – Saturday, July 6 from 11 am – 11 pm daily. Admission is FREE. The city will once again offer downtown and neighborhood fireworks on July 4 at 9:45 pm. The neighborhood fireworks will be launched from Patterson Park Sports Complex and Akron Fulton Airport. The downtown show will be launched near the Lock 3 area. Viewers can tune into 97.5 FM WONE that evening to get live updates on the launches and share in a soundtrack for the program. 

The festival includes national and local rib vendors competing for bragging rights for Best Ribs, Best Sauce and People’s Choice Awards. Visitors can enjoy ribs, pulled pork, chicken and corn, as well as a variety of fair food. Vendors include: After Hours BBQ, PigFoot BBQ, Porky Chicks BBQ, Grill Masters BBQ, Stray Dog, Homemade Delites, Swine BBQ and more!  Beer and other drinks will be available for purchase or guests can grab a drink from a downtown establishment and get it to go utilizing the city’s DORA.  

The Backyard Concert Schedule  

The Rib, White, and Blue Festival features concerts every night at 7pm on The Lock 3 Cleveland Clinic Stage (W. Bowery next to The Civic Theatre). Bring a chair or there is chair rental available for $3.   

Wednesday, July 3: Sammy Deleon featuring The Michael Austin Project 

Thursday, July 4: Best of Times Styx Tribute featuring Right Now Van Halen Tribute 

Friday, July 5: China Grove Doobie Brothers Tribute featuring Monica Robins and The Whiskey Kings 

Saturday, July 6: Larry McCray featuring Willie B 

Main Street Stage Entertainment Schedule 

Wednesday, July 3 

1:00 PM - Jim Ballard–Rock 

2:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

3:00 PM - Sad Harris–Soft Rap 

4:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

5:00 PM - Twin Atomic–Alternate Rock 

6:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

6:30 PM - Black Beanz–East African Dance 

 

Thursday, July 4 

1:00 PM - John Mayer– Magician & Balloon Artist 

2:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

3:00 PM - Black Beanz–East African Dance 

3:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

4:00 PM - Tyler Bohinc–Folk 

5:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

6:00 PM - Shane Vain & The Village Vandals–Rockabilly/Punk 

 

Friday, July 5 

1:00 PM - Black Beanz–East African Dance 

1:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

2:00 PM - Sea of Ghosts–Indie Rock 

3:00 PM - Brood X–Psychedelic  

4:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

4:30 PM - Mo Turk– Rap 

5:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

6:00 PM - Rent For Cheryl–Indie Alternative 

 

Saturday, July 6 

1:00 PM - Samantha Grace–Pop Rock 

2:00 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

2:30 PM - Afi Scruggs–R&B/Blues 

3:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

4:00 PM - Black Beanz–East African Dance 

4:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

5:30 PM - 12 O'Clock Tribe–Reggae 

6:30 PM - DJ Timbo Williams 

 

Parking: Parking in City-owned parking decks (including State Street and Cascade Decks) and at street parking meters is free after 6pm weeknights and free all-day July 4th (holiday), Saturday & Sunday. 

Motorcycle Parking: Located on W. Bowery starting at Quaker St. 

Firework Policy: 

While the state of Ohio passed legislation allowing residents to set off fireworks on particular holidays, including the Fourth of July, Akron passed an ordinance maintaining the city’s ban on setting off commercial or consumer grade fireworks without a permit. Residents are reminded it is not legal in city limits to set off these types of fireworks. 

City Offices and Trash Collections: 

All municipal offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Offices will be open on Friday, July 5. There will be no curb service on Thursday, July 4 in observance of the holiday. There will be a one-day delay of trash/recycle collections for the remainder of the week, with curb service resuming on Friday, July 5. To get reminders and alerts about your household’s curb service schedule, please download the Akron Recycles App for free on Android or Apple devices. 

Sponsors: 

Sponsors and foundation underwriting keep all concerts free or at deep discounts. 

Lock 3 thanks our sponsors Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Pritt Entertainment Group, Tramonte Distributing, Miller Light, Coca-Cola, Downtown Akron Partnership, Akron Civic Theatre, Thirsty Dog Brewery, The Knight Foundation, WAKR, WONE, WQMX.