The Akron Family Barbeque will be calling
grill masters from around Ohio, the Carolinas, and Texas, and all of them will be
competing for "best in show" awards for barbequed ribs, pulled pork, and
chicken. Nine specialty booths will be set up on South Main Street in front of Lock 3 Park
offering charcoal-cooked favorites. Lock 3's five regular food vendors will provide a host
of alternate food choices as well.
Gates open for the week at 11:00am Wednesday, July 4, and will stay open every day
through Saturday, July 7, 11am -11pm.
Admission of $5 will be charged Wednesday and Saturday only. The event is free on
Thursday and Friday and there is no admission charged 11am - 1pm Wednesday and Saturday.
Children who are less than 48 inches tall are always free at Lock 3 events.
Children's rides, fireworks, and four days of live music assure there's something for
every member of the family.
The Akron Family Barbeque is sponsored by the City of Akron in cooperation with the
Downtown Akron Partnership. Other sponsors include Miller Brewing, Coca Cola, Hitchcock
Fleming Associates, the Akron Beacon Journal and Ohio.Com, Lockheed Martin and the Barley
House.
On Wednesday, July 4, Canadian musicians "Classic Albums Live" will re-create
note-for-note on the Time Warner Cable Stage at Lock 3, two records by Fleetwood Mac,
"Rumours," and "Fleetwood Mac Live"
Wednesday's headliner at 7:30pm is "Survivor," best known for the iconic 80's
anthem "Eye of The Tiger" from Rocky III, and will kick off the first night of
the Akron Family Barbecue in grand rock and roll style.
The evening ends with what has been voted as the Akron Area's "best"
fireworks show on the Akron Innerbelt at 9:45pm.
On Thursday, the Akron Symphony Orchestra makes its Lock 3 debut at 7:30pm, with a
program of classic "pops," and Tchaikovsky's "Overture of 1812,"
complete with cannon fire.
On July 6, WONE's free Friday night "Rock the Lock" concert highlights the
band "Ohio: A Tribute to Crosby Stills, Nash & Young."
Saturday closes out the Akron Family Barbeque week with the best-attended Lock 3
concert every season, "Old School Soul," with "United We Funk" with
Dazz Band, Con Funk Shun & Bar-Kays.
The Akron Family Barbeque is open daily 11:00am to 11:00pm. Free parking is available
in city-owned parking decks and parking lots after 6pm weekdays, and all day Saturday.
For more information, go to
if they are unfamiliar with where to find the more than 10,000
parking spaces in Downtown Akron.
***
07-07-07, A Night to Remember
The evening of Saturday, July 7 promises to be a history-making night in Akron, one to
be remembered by everyone who heads to Downtown Akron for one of the following events, all
taking place at the same time:
- The Old School Soul Concert at Lock 3, which has attracted up to 5,000 music fans in
past years;
- The Akron Art Museum Gala, which has 1,500 glittering black tie guests for the first
major event at the Museum and John S. Knight Center;
- The Akron Aeros will draw some 7,000 baseball fans for their 7pm game against the Erie
Sea Wolves, with fireworks at the end of the game;
- Akron's Northside Arts District will be holding its monthly Art Walk, featuring an
opening at Mocha Maiden Gallery.
"We could easily have 15,000 people coming to Downtown for one of these events,
all at the same," said Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth, who heads the Mayor's Downtown
Operations Group. "The city is adding police details to make a special effort to
handle increased traffic, but for the evening to be fun, everyone will have to exercise
some patience."
High Street, from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Mill Street will be closed to through
traffic. Art Museum patrons only will have access to High Street south of Market to
accommodate valet parking at the Market-High deck.
***
Artist to "perform" for Barbeque Crowds
Beginning, July 4th, Akron muralist and painter Michael Gearhart will begin to tackle
the plywood on the front of the building at 201 S. Main Street, across from Lock 3 Park
with a new work of art that will be painted during the week.
The property, once the home of Downtown's last remaining adult book store was purchased
by developer David Schipper who is marketing the property for retail or office use.
Gearhart is best-known for his colorful tromp l'oeil pieces at Canal Place and his
decoration of Downtown buildings with unique paintings representing the Indian Signal Tree
on South Main and an old-time General store on East Exchange Street at High. A previous
work of art, "Melting Candy" on South Main at Church Street had to be removed
and stored earlier this year as work began on properties adjacent to the Akron Civic
Theatre, part of a $15 million project to rehabilitate six buildings for new retail,
commercial and residential space.
***
Two Couples to Marry on Stage at Lock 3 July 4th
Two couples, unknown to each other, separately requested Mayor Plusquellic to permit
them to marry on the 4th of July at Lock 3 Park.
Angelo Lewis inquired first about using the date to be wed to Carol Blankenship, since
he calls his betrothed his "little firecracker." They thought the date and the
place fit their personalities.
Andrew Williams and Brandy Lumley made their inquiry after having made Mayor
Plusquellic's acquaintance as a result of Andrew's service with the U.S. Army in Iraq.
Pvt. Williams completed an 18-month tour in Iraq as a truck driver last November, and
upon his return, presented the City of Akron with a flag that had flown over his base
camp.
The wedding services will take place between sets of "Classic Albums Live" at
5:30pm. The dual exchange of vows will be presided over by Akron Municipal Judge Eve
Belfance.
(Media Advisory: Lewis/Blankenship may be contacted at 330.983.1323. Williams/Lumley
may be contacted at 330.724.4309.)
***
AKRON FAMILY BARBEQUE SCHEDULE
Time Warner Cable Stage at Lock 3:
Wednesday July 4:
Gates open 11:00am. $5 admission collected after 1:00pm
- Music: 3:00pm Accent
- 4:30pm Classic Albums Live: Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours"
- 5:30pm Weddings on Stage at Lock 3
- 6:00pm Classic Albums Live:"The Best of Fleetwood Mac"
- 7:30pm Survivor
9:45pm FIREWORKS!
Thursday, July 5:
Gates open 11:00am. Free.
- Music: 6:00pm Steel Drums
- 7:30pm Akron Symphony Orchestra
Friday, July 6:
Gates open 11:00am. Free.
- Music: WONE's Rock the Lock
- 7:00pm The Cletus Black Revue
- 8:30pm Ohio: A Tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- 10:00pm Ohio: A Tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Saturday, July 7
Gates open 11:00am. $5 admission collected after 1:00pm
- Music: Old School Soul
- 3:00pm Rumplestiltskin
- 4:30pm Sonny Robertson & The Howard Street Blues Band
- 6:30pm "United We Funk" with Dazz Band, Con Funk Shun & Bar- Kays
AKRON FAMILY BARBEQUE
INVITED CHEFS
Old Carolina, Massillon, Ohio
Contact: Tim Hug 330-268-6575
Smokin Joe: Columbus, Ohio
Contact: Joe Jackson 614-323-2961
Ribbins BBQ: Chambersburg, PA
Contact: Rondel Adams 717-372-0160
Texas Pit: Magnolia Texas
Contact: Ron Conaway 713-208-6441
Two Fat Guys: Massillon, Ohio
Contact: Dale Foraker 330-837-2371
Cowboys BBQ and Rib Company: Weatherford Texas
Contact: Dallas Green 817-320-2702
Carolina Rib King: Moore South Carolina
Contact: Solomon Williams 864-356-5050
Green's BBQ: Akron, Ohio
Contact: Roland Green 330-645-9444
Smokin Joe's Cafe: Akron, Ohio
Contact: Smokin Joe 330-338-9900
***
Akron Symphony Orchestra Summer Parks Program
PATRIOTIC
- Star Spangled Banner
- Armed Forces Salute
EARLY AMERICAN
- Brown Early American Quadrille
- Sousa Semper Fidelis
- Fillmore Lassus Trombone
- Anderson Blue Tango
SALUTE TO RICHARD RODGERS
- Carousel Waltz
- March of the Siamese Children
- Slaughter on 10th Ave
FILM
- Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean
- Elfman Spiderman
BIG BAND
- Ellington Medley
- Miller American Patrol
GRAND FINALE
- Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture
- Sousa Stars and Stripes
