Long Beach blues and art festival kicks off

Artists in Partnership Inc. and the Long Beach Public Library will present the third annual Barrier Beach Memphis Blues and Arts Festival in Long Beach starting Wednesday and continuing through Sunday.

More than 30 free family-friendly programs designed to be educational and entertaining will feature music, dance and art. Performers will include blues guitarist Toby Walker, the Alexis P. Suter Band, blues musician Valerie June and the Irving Louis Lattin Band.

An art reception will be held Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park, followed by a blues dance workshop and music from 7 to 9 p.m. Library seating is limited to 200 people.

The festival will end with the “Red, White & Blues Arts in the Plaza” event Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Kennedy Plaza, 1 W. Chester St. The event will feature arts, crafts and photography booths.

For event schedules and venues, call 516-432-6342 or visit the Artists in Partnership website or the Barrier Beach Blues and Arts Festival website.