Crowds gather on Washington and Front streets in downtown Marquette during a previous Blueberry Festival. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Blueberry Festival, celebrating all things blueberry in the heart of downtown, runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Set against the backdrop of Lake Superior, Washington and Front streets will come alive with a vibrant celebration featuring sidewalk sales, live music and an array of tempting blueberry-themed food and drink options.

The 22nd annual Blueberry Festival opens up the streets to the newly created Social District, allowing people to enjoy the downtown ambiance with local beverages.

Local restaurants have gone all out to satisfy every blueberry craving, offering mouthwatering delights like blueberry beer. There also will be special “blue” deals available at numerous downtown shops.

Get ready to stock up on farm-fresh blueberries, as local vendors will be on hand throughout the day, offering piles of plump, juicy berries that are the star of the festival.

“We have over 80 vendors, more than what we’ve seen in the past,” said Mike Bradford, business outreach and promotions director of the Marquette Downtown Development Authority.

Food offerings include blueberry brats, pizza and lemonade, he said. In addition, downtown restaurant Lagniappe Cajun Creole Eatery will be at the Blueberry Festival for the first time, offering blueberry bread pudding.

Bradford said there will be “tons” of artisans at the event as well as inflatable arcade games.

“It’s a pretty eclectic collection of stuff you can find there,” he said.

Music, he noted, will be at the Phil Niemisto Pocket Park and the Rosewood Walkway, with a large center stage at the intersection of Washington and Front streets.

Because of the event, West Washington Street from Third Street to Front Street as well as South Front Street from Washington Street to Spring Street will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

North Front Street from Bluff Street to Washington Street, Main Street from South Third Street to Lakeshore Boulevard, and South Front Street from Baraga Avenue to Spring Street will be closed to through traffic during the same hours.

Traffic will be detoured using Baraga Avenue and South Third Street.

To ensure that no vehicles are parked in the event area and to allow for vendor setup on Friday morning, parking will be prohibited in the 100 block of West Washington Street as well as the 100 and 200 blocks of South Front Street after 2 a.m. today.