Lock 3 adds food, festivals to summer lineup

On the heels of announcing its Rock the Lock lineup for this year, the city of Akron has unveiled a new slate of additional events for its popular Lock 3 Park downtown.

While music for Father’s Day might dominate the Rock the Lock events on Fridays, food will be a major theme for other events announced Monday, April 25. Returning favorites include the Rib, White and Blue Festival on the Fourth of July weekend, the 73rd Annual Italian American Festival and the Akron Pizza Fest.

Not that there won’t be feasts for the ears as well. This year’s lineup includes Saturday events and concerts, such as Old School Soul Part 1 on June 25 with the Average White Band and Night of Blues July 9 with the not-so-average Black Cat Roberts, and a July 16 Michael Jackson experience called Who’s Bad.

There will also be Gospel Sundays, with free admission to see acts like Truth Mime Ministry and Friends, Donell Phipps & Delivered, Exalting Him Gospel Choir and the Mt. Haven Baptist Church.

Also on Sundays, beginning June 5 and ending Aug. 28, there will be a lineup of films for the Lock’s Sunday Cinema events.

As for the festivals that tend to be Lock 3’s biggest events, the Rib, White and Blue Festival is July 1-4, the African American Cultural Festival runs July 23 and 24, the annual Italian American Festival is Aug. 4-6, the Akron Pride Festival is Aug. 27, and the Akron Pizza Fest is Sept. 2-4.

Many events are free, but some require tickets. For more information or to stay up to date on new announcements for the summer, head to the Lock 3 Facebook page.