This summer is the 30th anniversary of the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. It has become one of the longest-running, most prestigious blues festivals in the world. Held on the shore of the Mississippi River, this event features music on two outdoor stages and educational presentations in both an indoor workshop space and an outdoor tent area used for BlueSKool and children’s presentations. The festival is always held as close to July 4th as possible. Four different times, the festival has moved due to river flooding, and usually with only a week’s notice, but each time, festival organizers and volunteers have been up to the task. In 1995 the festival inaugurated its RiverRoad Award to honor the true legends of the blues, beginning with Honeyboy Edwards. Thus far, 36 men and women have been so honored. In 2013 the festival was the recipient of the Quad cities Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Hospitality Award.
