As many as 5,000 people were expected to converge on downtown Des Moines during the holiday weekend to sample beer and listen to 23 local, regional and national bands on 14 stages during the annual Court Avenue Labor Day Blues Festival and Brewfest. Organizers say the event draws attention to Court Avenue and Fourth Street areas and provides an economic boost to downtown restaurants, bars and hotels.

“We believe in downtown and want to make it a better place,” said Lynnette Webster, vice president of the Central Iowa Blues Society, a co-sponsor of the event.

The CIBS has been organizing semiannual blues festivals on Court Avenue and Fourth Street for 10 years, hosting events every February and Labor Day weekend. This year marks the sixth consecutive year the Brewfest, featuring local and regional microbreweries, was held in conjunction with the blues blowout. The Brewfest featured three rock bands on Saturday, and the Court Avenue Blues Fest hosted 20 blues bands on Sunday, including a record four national headlining acts: Jody Williams, Chris Beard, Bill Perry and Michael Burks. An after-hours jam that lasted until 5 a.m. Monday was held at the Kirkwood Civic Center Hotel Ballroom. Participants who purchased a wristband for $10 were admitted to all venues on Sunday, including the jam and Brewfest stage.

“It’s a great marriage between the two,” said Michael Marasco, president of Partners in Charity, the non-profit group that sponsors the Brewfest. “The businesses are packed for two days, and they do what they can to help us, as well as the city.”

Joe Coppola, owner of Java Joes Coffeehouse, one of several participating venues, said the event boosts sales on what would normally be a slow night.

“It drives that Sunday up, which would be a soft day usually,” he said. “It makes it like a Friday night. The blues night is always good. It draws well, and the crowd enjoys the music.”

In addition to benefiting local businesses, organizers said net proceeds from the event were donated to Central Iowa charities.