Decatur BBQ Festival Set for Saturday, August 13

DECATUR, GA — The 16th annual Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival is set to return on Saturday, August 13, from noon to 8 pm in Oakhurst's Harmony Park.

The event will feature barbecue from local restaurants and vendors along with live music from Sydney Rhame, Lockdown Blues Band, Jeff Mosier, Mudcat, Dianne Durrett & Soul Saga and many more.

The Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival was founded by the Decatur Preservation Alliance (DPA) in 2000. The alliance had managed to save the old Decatur train depot, located at Candler and Howard Streets, from demolition but needed funds to move the building off of the railroad right-of-way and secure the structure. With permission and support from the city, they closed off Howard Avenue east of Candler, brought in a flatbed trailer to serve as a stage, rounded up some bands, and threw a party.

The 2000 festival was a success and DPA made it an annual event. Along the way, they invited other organizations to participate including the Decatur Active Living, the Community Center of South Decatur and the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association.

In 2014 the festival made a major event area change by expanding to the adjacent 630 East Lake lot. This more cohesive location allowed more space for attendees, a larger stage, and an overall more efficient event footprint.

In addition the event hours were changed to better reflect a typical festival day.

Image: Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival