‘Grand’ Boulevardia Arrives at Crown Center This Weekend

This weekend’s “Grand Boulevardia” is celebrating its new home at Crown Center with plenty of live music, glow-in-the-dark cornhole, lots of food and beer options, and even tarot card readings.

The event runs from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and covers the Crown Center Plaza, a section of Grand Boulevard and Washington Square Park.

This year’s Boulevardia will include other popular attractions from its previous location in the West Bottoms including a Ferris wheel, other amusement park rides and a Makers Market in the park featuring 50 vendors.

“Attendees looking for a little pick-me-up can head over to the Roasterie Travel Center, where they will be selling cold brew to keep guests cool and energized throughout the festival,” according to a press release.

The Taps & Taste event, featuring brewers from around the country, will be held in the Sheraton Hotel event hall. Outside, the festival also has 10 bars and 15 food vendors for ticket holders to enjoy.

You can also sample a variety of bites from some of Boulevardia’s sponsors, including Big Green Egg, who will be on-site grilling up Prairie Fresh Pork and KC Steak samples, and Hy-Vee, who will be grilling up Space Camper brat samples.

Boulevardia had been scheduled to move to Crown Center last year, but the event was canceled because of the Covid pandemic. Organizers say the shift is being welcomed because of the better parking, streetcar access and the hotel options at Crown Center.

Boulevardia’s organizers are creating a music lineup that will showcase local, regional and national acts including Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jenny Lewis, Dashboard Confessional and Dayglow.

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