North Liberty Blues & BBQ is taking this summer off while construction of Hy-Vee Center & Amphitheater in Centennial Park wraps up, but the festival’s signature VIP event — Pig & Pint presented by Veridian Credit Union — is still on.

Reserve your individual ticket or table now for an evening of great food, drinks and live music at Field Day Brewing on Thursday, July 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Proceeds will support free programming, such as Blues & BBQ, in Centennial Park in 2026.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale now for $70 per ticket or $550 for a table of eight. Ticket includes:

• Entry to the private event
• A barbecue buffet curated by Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack and Field Day Brewing
• Live music from James Tutson and the Rollback
• Alcohol (anything on tap) and soft drinks
• A commemorative event pint glass to take home
• Photo opportunities
• Pride in supporting free community programming

To guarantee seats together with your friends, family or coworkers, please reserve a table for eight, as individual tickets will not have assigned seating. There will not be a formal program, just good old fashioned community building.

To avoid online processing fees, individuals and businesses may also reserve seats via email and pay by check by contacting Jillian Miller at jmiller@northlibertyiowa.org or 319-626-5757.

Proceeds will support free programming, such as Blues & BBQ, in Centennial Park in 2026.

Buy Tickets

What’s on the menu

The buffet will be open from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Meat prepared by Jimmy Jack’s — Blues & BBQ’s 2018 Best BBQ Champion

• Pulled pork: smoked for 12 hours and hand pulled
• Beef brisket: hickory smoked with Jimmy Jack’s spice rub for optimum bark and hand carved
• Sauces: Original, Chicago Fire, Cowboy and Carolina Mustard

Sides and dessert prepared by Field Day Brewing

• Mac n’ cheese: rotini pasta, cheddar cream sauce and toasted herb breadcrumbs
• Baked beans: bacon, onion, garlic, red pepper and Field Day’s tangy BBQ sauce
• Cole slaw: shredded red & green cabbage, bell pepper, carrot, red onion and cilantro-lime dressing
• Honey-butter glazed cornbread
• Chocolate chip cookie

Beverages

Admission to the event includes soft drinks and any alcoholic offering on tap that evening from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. — including Centennial Smash.

Centennial Smash is Field Day Brewing’s new strawberry kiwi sour debuting this July.  Sales of the fruit-forward, vibrant and juicy sour will benefit Building North Liberty’s Next Stage capital campaign to develop Centennial Park.

Attendees are welcome to continue the fun at Field Day after the event concludes at 9 p.m. Drinks will remain available for purchase but the kitchen will be closed.

Blues & BBQ returns in 2026

Over the past decade, we’ve hosted Blues & BBQ, giant-kite festivals, circus acts and other performances and community events in Centennial Park. That experience laid the foundation and support for a four-phase development of the the park. Coming community amenities includ an event center and amphitheater; premier splash pad; expanded and accessible play structures; an open-air pavilion; expansive plaza spaces and pathways to connect amenities; an honor garden; and restrooms, shelters and additional parking. Learn more here.

The largest and first phase — Hy-Vee Center & Amphitheater and its surrounding plaza — broke ground after the festival in 2024 and construction continues this summer with expected completion this fall. Reservations are now being accepted for private celebrations November 2025 through December 2026.

The festival will return bigger and better than ever on July 11, 2026. Stay in the loop by following Centennial Park’s Facebook page.

Event partners

We’re grateful for the longtime support of North Liberty Blues & BBQ’s presenting festival sponsor — and this summer’s Pig & Pint presenting sponsor — Veridian Credit Union.

Veridian is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. That means excess earnings are returned to its members in the form of higher returns, lower loan rates and better services. Veridian is committed to making members feel welcome and helping them create successful financial futures. Building relationships with members allows Veridian to anticipate members’ needs and exceed their expectations. The credit union embraces the philosophy of “people helping people.” With that in mind, it partners with local organizations, supports community events, grants funding and provides scholarships for deserving students.

This year’s Pig & Pint event would also not be possible without the support of Field Day Brewing. North Liberty’s only brewery has prioritized community engagement since opening their doors in 2023 and their partnership on Centennial Park Pilsner in 2024 and the release of Centennial Smash this summer is a testament to commitment to the area.