A stretch of Wilson Blvd in Ballston will be closed and turned into a pub and outdoor stage next month for a new event: Bands & Brews on the Boulevard.

The Ballston Business Improvement District will transform the thoroughfare between N. Stuart Street and N. Randolph Street, near Ballston Quarter, into an event space serving drinks and featuring live music from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, the 24th. July.

Bands & Brews on the Boulevard is hosted by BallstonGives, the charitable arm of the BID. The event is free, but people will need to purchase drink tickets, the proceeds of which will be donated to the BallstonGives Bartender Relief Fund.

“We want to generate funds to support our local restaurants and their bartenders, who have made sacrifices to serve our community in difficult times,” said a spokesperson for BID. “In addition to our efforts throughout the pandemic, this relief fund will allow us to create future programs and events featuring restaurants in our neighborhood.”

Drink tickets can be purchased in advance at a reduced price. Discounted prices are $ 7 for a beer or glass of wine, $ 10 for a craft cocktail, and $ 30 for five beers or glasses of wine. For $ 50, people can purchase a “bar package” with eight beers or glasses of wine and two cocktails, which can be shared.

Drink tickets purchased during the event will not be reduced.

Participants will have the choice between two stages of live performances. The main stage will host a DJ as well as bands whose styles range from rock and pop to oldies and funk:

Participants can request songs for Bobby McKey’s dueling pianos to play in the last hour by sending a message to the Ballston BID Instagram page.

A smaller stage in Welburn Square – home to the Ballston Farmer’s Market – will host a performance by the Avant Bard Theater in Arlington from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and singer-songwriter Lucia Valentine from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Ballston BID