Blues Fest 2.0. New version of popular event returning to downtown Canton

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CANTON − Is a sequel ever as good as the original?
Blockbuster movie franchises sometimes replicate success. Other times, subsequent films bomb at the box office. But what about the 2025 version of the Blues Fest in downtown Canton?
Blues fans have lamented the loss of the original Canton Blues Fest, which ended after the 2022 event. Previously presented and coordinated by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the free event was reduced to one day its final year due to rising costs.
But Todd Herberghs and the Downtown Canton Partnership will give a blues-themed event another try July 11-12 at Centennial Plaza. Event sponsors also include International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 540 and Visit Canton. Northeast Ohio musicians will be featured.
"The Canton Blues Fest was absolutely amazing," he said. "This is something different. People can come and walk around downtown and support downtown businesses and have a good time, and we'll see where it goes (in the future)."
The original Blues Fest "was wildly successful, and people loved it, and it had a great following," Herberghs added. "But like all events, you have to at least break even, or you make some money or it's difficult to operate."
The new Downtown Canton Blues & BBQ Festival will pair live music with barbecue vendors and food trucks while also featuring a craft beer garden comprised of local breweries. Part of the proceeds from beer sales will benefit the Canton Palace Theatre's renovation project.
Blues Fest hours will be 5 to 9:30 p.m. July 11 and 2 to 9:30 p.m. July 12.
The July 11 music lineup will be Austin Walkin Cane from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., and Bob Frank Trio from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. July 12 will feature Willis Gordon Band from 2:30 to 430 p.m.; Jake Friel Band from 5 to 7 p.m.; and The Blue Lunch Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The first day of the Blues & BBQ Festival will coincide with July First Friday festivities (First Friday is taking place the second Friday of July due to the Fourth of July holiday).
Food trucks and vendors will include Uncle Bacon's BBQ, The Ohio BBQ Crew, The Hickory Hog, RaK's BBQ, Mydee Good Eatin, Twisted Grill & Grind, Don Polo Mexican Food, Metropolis Popcorn, Island Delight Smoothies and Hampy Camper Cocktail Co.
Herberghs, executive director of the Downtown Canton Partnership, said this will be the first step toward bringing back a blues-based event on what he hopes is an annual basis. Performers won't be national acts or as well-known as those in the past because the Downtown Canton Partnership lacks the resources to book them, he said.
Paying for such musicians and bands costs tens of thousands of dollars, and the Downtown Canton Partnership has a limited budget and sources of funding, he said. Security and marketing are other event costs. He also noted the Downtown Canton Blues & BBQ Festival is a free event.
Jonathan Becker of the Downtown Canton Partnership said the group worked with the Northeast Ohio Blues Association to identify and book bands.
"These are all regional and local performers that we wanted to feature and celebrate as we re-establish the blues event here," said Becker, creative director of First Friday for the Downtown Canton Partnership.
Additionally, DJ Krooze will "provide an interactive experience filled with blues music as we change over the bands," Becker said. "... That gives us four-and-a-half hours of blues music on Friday, and a seven-hour show Saturday."
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In 2023, the Downtown Canton Partnership presented the Downtown Canton Music Festival in absence of the Blues Fest. Local, regional and tribute bands performed at the free event.
Attendance was low on the first day (Thursday) before rebounding strongly on the second day, but the Downtown Canton Music Fest was canceled after one year because it wasn't financially feasible to hold again, Herberghs said.
The nonprofit Downtown Canton Partnership was formed in October 2022 by downtown property and business owners, and includes the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District, a designated area downtown where property owners pay a special assessment for services, such as landscaping.
The Downtown Canton Partnership receives 40% of its funding from the city of Canton. Other sources include grants and sponsorships. The organization also awards grants to support downtown events such as the Canton Farmers Market, Stark Pride Festival, Canton Pickle Fest, African American Arts & Cultural Festival and the summer movie series at Centennial Park.
Along with paying for entertainment, events at Centennial Plaza are limited on how much revenue they can generate through alcohol sales, Herberghs said.
"It makes the economics of this event difficult," he said of the Blues Fest.
Jerzee's Cafe, a sports bar and eatery, holds the liquor license for Centennial Plaza. Events like the Blues & BBQ Festival are limited to street sales of alcohol after securing a temporary permit through the state of Ohio.
The city of Canton recently transferred management of Centennial Plaza from the Pro Football Hall of Fame to ASM Global, a private company that manages the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Jerzee's, however, will still maintain the liquor license for the site, Mayor William V. Sherer II said.
Liquor sales at events help keep Jerzee's economically viable at Centennial Plaza since business fluctuates greatly, Sherer said.
"Jerzee's (and owner Chris Maggiore) came down (to Centennial Plaza to open a restaurant and bar) when nobody else wanted to," he said. "And my intent the whole time was to have Jerzee's stay. We negotiated with (ASM Global) and ASM negotiated with Chris. I think everything is going to be headed in the right direction."
Visit Canton, also known as the Stark County Convention and Visitors' Bureau, is enthused to welcome back a blues-centric event.
"Stark County is fortunate to offer a remarkable array of live music for both residents and visitors," said Allyson Bussey, president and CEO of Visit Canton. "However, this particular genre has been absent from our offerings. The previous Blues Festival served as a regional attraction for visitors, positively impacting the community through increased visitor spending."
"We are confident that the Downtown Canton Partnership's new Blues & BBQ Festival will bring back previous blues fans to the community and attract new audiences to experience both outstanding music and great (barbecue)."
Sherer is also pleased to have a variation of the Blues Fest back.
The mayor hopes the event grows. He also would like to add other new events downtown, including one focusing on ribs at Centennial Plaza. However, a ribs event would not compete with the annual Ribs Burnoff at the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus during Memorial Day weekend, he said.
"I've lived here my entire life," Sherer said. "I remember how impactful the Ribs Burnoff was downtown for the city of Canton, and I would like to see that come back to be able to take our downtown to the next level."
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Sherer said a potential Canton Ribs Burnoff also would not take place during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.
Both the city and Herberghs are hoping for bigger musical acts at the Blues & BBQ Festival in the future.
They believe ASM Global and Canton Civic Center General Manager Blake Schilling could help make that happen.
ASM Global is assuming management of Centennial Plaza under a lease agreement with the city of Canton.
"With their nationwide clout, we can continue to build (the event)," Herberghs said of ASM Global, which manages arenas and entertainment venues across the country and world. "I hope to build up the event to be something that would draw national performers, and I hope to work with (ASM Global) and build that up."
The plan is to bring ticketed events and concerts to the city-owned Centennial Plaza, Sherer said.
"If you want the good bands to come, you're going to have to pay them," he said.
"Blake Schilling and SMG can really take it to the next level with his contacts and being hooked up with Ticketmaster," Sherer said. "... And it will benefit all downtown businesses.
"I think it's only going to complement what we already have at Centennial Plaza," the mayor added. "We've got a lot of great stuff in the pipeline."
Schilling said he shares the mayor's desire to take Centennial Plaza "to the next level ... and to provide increased content and provide quality and quantity."
More diverse entertainment is also planned, Schilling said, noting he's had conversations with Caged Thunder MMA about the possibility of bringing events to Centennial Plaza. Caged Thunder already holds events at the Civic Center.
"Some of the acts that we look to get there may warrant a ticket price," he said of Centennial Plaza.
"I look forward to collaborating with everyone down there to see where I can be of assistance," he said. "And I'm excited to see the Blues Fest this year and certainly take notes and see in what ways I can help."
Bill Wright, 70, of Canton Township, is among the fans who would love to see notable blues artists perform downtown again at a multi-day event.
"I was a big fan of the past Blues Fests because they always brought in top bands and artists who were on the rise," he said. "Seeing bands like Walter Trout, Coco Montoya and Robert Cray was pretty cool.
"I'm pleased to see that they are trying again because there is a big blues audience in the area," Wright added. "Plans are up in the air for me this year, but I hope it builds from here. Who knows, a band that plays this year might just make it."
Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and [e-mail]. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Downtown Canton Blues & BBQ Festival fills hole of Blues Fest