Hot Licks Blues Festival 2026 in Downtown Granville

The Hot Licks Blues Festival is back for its 26th year, bringing world-class blues music to downtown Granville for a full day of free entertainment. If you love live music, good food, and great community vibes, this is the event to mark on your calendar.

2026 Lineup

This year's festival features an outstanding lineup of blues and roots musicians:

• - Ana Popovic -- Serbian-born, internationally acclaimed blues guitarist and vocalist
• - Kara Grainger -- Australian blues guitarist and singer known for her soulful sound
• - The High Definitions -- High-energy blues and soul band
• - Shaun Booker -- Soulful Columbus vocalist and performer
• - Tom Carroll -- Regional blues favorite
• - NOCA Student Band -- Featuring talented young musicians from the Newark Organization for the Creative Arts

Food, Drinks, and More

The festival features food trucks serving a variety of cuisines, a beer garden for the adults, and local vendors offering everything from art to handmade goods. It is a full-day experience, not just a concert.

Supporting Arts Education

The Hot Licks Blues Festival is organized by the Newark Organization for the Creative Arts (NOCA) and serves as their primary fundraiser to continue youth arts education programming in Licking County. By attending, you are supporting music education for the next generation of musicians.

Getting There

The festival takes place on the first block of East Broadway in downtown Granville. Parking is available in downtown lots and on surrounding streets. Granville is easily accessible from Route 16 and I-70, making it a short drive from Newark, Heath, Pataskala, and Columbus.