Free entertainment: Get a 'Taste of the Blues' at this festival on Saturday

Looking for cheap entertainment this weekend? Well, this may be for you.

Main Street Crystal Springs is hosting its 4th Annual Taste of the Blues Festival in downtown Crystal Springs on Saturday, and admission is free.

The festival includes activities for children in the Kids Zone, arts and crafts booths and plenty of food to eat. Of course, there will be live music as well. Entertainment will be provided by blues bands Shake It Like A Caveman, Jason Bailey and headlined by The Bridge Band.

A blues festival in Crystal Springs? Yes, Crystal Springs has strong ties to the blues. Mississippi blues legend Robert Johnson was born nearby and his only known child, Claud Johnson, lived his life and raised his family in Crystal Springs.

The town is also home to the Robert Johnson Museum and crosswalks on downtown streets feature the music of Johnson's "Crosstown Blues."

"We focused on the blues because of our history with Robert Johnson," Main Street Crystal Springs director Felicia Thompson said.

The town was also once home to lesser known, but influential bluesman Tommy Johnson and he is buried just outside of the city limits. Tommy Johnson is known for songs such as "Canned Heat Blues" and "Big Road Blues."

In addition to live music, food and shopping, there will be karaoke for aspiring blues singers.

"It's going to be a fun, family-friendly day," Thompson said.

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There will be plenty of food to choose from

Seventeen food vendors are scheduled to be on site and customers can choose from:

• Catfish

• Crawfish

• Corndogs

• Pasta

• Hamburgers

• Polish sausages

• Fried shrimp

• Chicken on a stick

• Ox tails

• Snacks

• Desserts

You can shop for unique items, too

Fourteen crafts vendors are expected to be there with a variety of things of to buy such as:

• Knives

• Jewelry

• Cigar box guitars

• Pottery

• Soaps and bath products

• Copper and glass slides

• Wallets

If you go

• When: 4-10 p.m., Saturday April 22, Kids Zone opens at 2 p.m.

• Where: Railroad Park, downtown Crystal Springs

• Karaoke: 4-5 p.m.

• Music: Music starts at 5:15 p.m. with Shake It Like A Caveman followed by Jason Bailey at 6:30 p.m. and The Bridge Band at 7:45 p.m.

• What to bring: Lawn chairs, blankets

• Coolers are allowed

Contact Brian Broom at bbroom@gannett.com or 601-961-7225.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Free blues festival in Crystal Springs Saturday