Great Escape: Bands, Brews & Barbecue Festival

Come out and enjoy one of summer's final celebrations at the first annual Bands, Brews and BBQ Festival in Old Town Manassas

September 22nd marks the end of summer, so don't miss out on this end-of-the season event featuring a BBQ competition, live local bands and kegs filled to the brim with ice cold beer.

The event takes place Saturday, September 17th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Center for the Arts parking lot and arts of Battle and Main streets.

The BBQ competition will feature 'Best in Taste' in three divisions: chicken, beef and pork. Manassas restaurants competing include Old Towne Sports Pub, Adair's Brothers BBQ, Absolute BBQ of Manassas, Willards BBQ & Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Do you have a secret BBQ recipe you want to unleash? Don't let these big names deter you from entering the competition. Civilian competitors are allowed to enter. Contact Sara Hughes at smchugh@historicmanassasinc.org if you are interested, it's not to late!

Trophy and a gift basket loaded with gift cards and other goodies will be awarded to the winner.

Local bands performing include Halfway to Concord, Shane Gamble, Shake It Up and Rich Hostelley.

Sponsor for the event and local beer distributor J.F. Fick will be providing all of the cold, golden goodness. Here is a list of what will be on tap:

• Fred Red Ale, Legend, Shock Top, Landshark, Old Dominion, Starr Hill, Budweiser, Bud Light, Red Hook and Hoegaarden

Other vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, crafts and clothing, while children can enjoy face painting and getting their hair wrapped.

Tickets range in price from $10-$25 and will go up the day of the event. 

This is just one of many events going on in Old Town that day; will be taking place and don't forget the Farmer's Market will be conducting their normal Saturday market under the water tower.

Old Town merchants will also be holding a sidewalk sale throughout the entire afternoon in front of their stores.

And since the date of the event is September 17th, exactly six months until St.Patrick's Day, Old Towne Sports Pub will be throwing their "Halfway to St.Patrick's Day" party. Live bagpipers and drummer boys will be on hand and the Pub will be smoking fresh corned beef and have plenty of St.Patties Day adult drink specials. The pub will also have a booth at the festival, so be sure to stop by for a sample of their smoked corned beef.