Photo courtesy of The Cold Stares Facebook Page The Cold Stares, a band out of Evansville, Ind., is the featured act of the Red, White and Blues Festival this weekend in Fredonia. The band will play Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Barker Commons Gazebo.

Since 1995, Fredonia has been home to an annual event featuring local wine tasting paired with talented artists excited to share their music with the community. This weekend, that annual tradition is back.

The Red, White and Blues Festival will take over downtown Fredonia this weekend, beginning Friday afternoon through Saturday night. The event — featuring 16 acts at 13 different venues — is presented by Festivals Fredonia.

“It’s nice to be able to celebrate wineries in our area. … We’re trying to celebrate the red and white wine of the region and pair that along with a progressive blues festival,” said Larry Fiorella, President of Festivals Fredonia and co-chairman of the Red, White and Blues Festival.

First to hit the stage at 64 On the Rocks is Midnight Recovery at 4:30 p.m., as one of three acts to begin the festival on Friday. Grosh will perform at the American Legion Post 59 at 6 p.m., while Dr. Z and the Blues Remedy takes the Beaver Club stage at 8 p.m.

Saturday, a total of 13 acts will perform over the course of the day. The first act, Growlers Blues Band from Buffalo will perform at the Barker Commons Gazebo at noon. The featured act of the festival, The Cold Stares, from Evansville, Ind., will perform after Growlers Blues Band at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Barker Commons Gazebo.

“I was listening to XM Radio and heard one of their songs. … They are really good. We’re excited,” said Fiorella of The Cold Stares.

Fiorella originally reached out to the band’s manager to ask if they were interested in playing at the festival. A few weeks later, their manager called back, said they were playing some shows in the area, and Fiorella was thrilled to book the event’s main attraction.

Pucci’s Furniture and Bedding in Fredonia will sponsor the signature commemorative plastic cups for the event, along with providing Adirondack chairs in a special tent for guests to enjoy while The Cold Stares are performing. The tent will be set up near an all-new VIP Tent, a new feature of this year’s festival. The VIP Tent will be open from noon until 6 p.m. to host select guests of the festival.

At Barker Commons starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, food trucks, restaurants, and wineries will be selling food and beverages. Those in attendance include: Franklin’s Honey & Apples, Blasdell Pizza Dunkirk, Whiz Whip, JJ’s Backyard BBQ, Steve and Al’s Steak Out, Serving Up Smiles, 21 Brix, and Woodbury Winery

Official sponsor Three Chord Bourbon will be featured in a contest for the best cocktail, which will be voted on and chosen at the festival. The drinks in the contest are: Smokin’ Sage Bourbon – 64 On the Rocks; Bourbon Smash – American Legion Post 59; Sneaky Beaver – Fredonia Beaver Club; Red, White & Berry – Coughlan’s; Sweaty Balls – Muldoon’s/Tully’s; and Nor’easter – EBC West.

The festival will also host a 9/11 memorial motorcycle run and fundraiser to benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America and Dunkirk VA Clinic. The festival partnered with the American Legion Riders for this event. Registration starts at 10 a.m., with the rides beginning at 11:30 a.m. Riders will visit various Chautauqua County locations and meet back near Barker Commons in time to see The Cold Stares perform. Cost is $10 per rider and includes lunch after the event.

The festival will also hold a basket raffle, a 50-50 raffle, and a commemorative 9/11 memorial steel artwork raffle with artwork provided by Echevarria Designs. The raffle proceeds for the artwork benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America and Dunkirk VA Clinic, while the basket raffle and 50/50 benefit the Great Lake FX community giveback program.

Merchandise will be available at the Fredonia Beaver Club on Friday night and in Barker Commons all day Saturday.

The 16 performing artists, in order of start time, include: Midnight Recovery, Grosh, Dr. Z and the Blues Remedy, Growlers Blues Band, Beer Crate Blues Band, Jammin’ Gypsies, The Cold Stares, Willy May, Mo Porter, JT Blues Band, Shaky Ray Blues Band, Mark Winsick Band, Two Towns, Jony James Band, KrossBones, and Silver X-treme.

The 13 host venues for the weekend festival include: 64 On the Rocks, American Legion Post 59, Fredonia Beaver Club, Barker Commons Gazebo, Heenan’s Irish Pub, Coughlan’s, Fred’s, Muldoon’s/Tully’s, Domus Fare, Downtown Brew, Old Main Inn, EBC West, and Valentine’s.

A full lineup of the bands is available by scanning the QR code on a brochure with a map of all the venues at participating bars and restaurants or at the Festivals Fredonia table. More information can be found online at festivalsfredoniany.org/red-white-blues/