Pizza Pie Looza returns to Nevada with country music headliners, pizza pie theme
A pizza bonanza nears.
Nevada's popular spring festival returns on Saturday, May 11, with performances from country music stars, family activities, and, of course, pizza-themed food.
Pizza Pie Looza, sponsored by the Nevada Community Foundation, is held in Nevada's Main Street District throughout the day.
Kids activities, food from local vendors and free music will be available during the day, while performances on the main stage will take place at night in front of Nevada City Hall.
Nevada Mayor Brett Barker said the annual Pizza Pie Looza celebration has something for all ages.
"We expect thousands of people to come through our main street again this year, and it should be bigger and better than ever," Barker said.
Tickets can be purchased on the Pizza Pie Looza website.
The annual festival starts at 9 a.m. on May 11 with a race. Vendors will start selling food at 1 p.m., accompanied by artist demonstrations throughout the downtown corridor.
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Pizza Pie Looza's origins and evolution
Pizza Pie Looza evolved from RUN Country Fest 5k, which was put on by Runners United Nevada before the Nevada Community Foundation took it over in 2022.
Nevada wanted to host an event that would celebrate its Main Street District after becoming a Main Street Iowa Community in 2019. They also were eager to show off the streetscape that was rebuilt in 2020-21.
"We have had fantastic improvement and revitalization of our main street. There are a lot of new businesses downtown and a lot of projects going on. " Barker said. "We wanted to find a way to bring people to Nevada that may not otherwise have a reason to come."
The pizza theme pays homage to Nevada’s Burke Corporation, a giant in the pizza toppings business.
"It was just natural for us to play off that," Barker said. People who are eating pizza in the Midwest are probably eating products that are made in Nevada."
All Pizza Pie Looza food vendors will provide at least one pizza or pie-related item.
The annual event has brought in several popular country acts, including JoDee Messina in 2022 and the Roots and Boots tour of Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye, and Sammy Kershaw in 2023.
Who are the performers at Pizza Pie Looza?
Sawyer Brown, a country music band with a career spanning four decades, is Pizza Pie Looza's 2024 headlining act.
The band has charted over 50 times on the Hot Country Songs Chart, anchored by their hits “Step That Step,” “Thank God For You,” “Some Girls Do,” and “Six Days on the Road.” Their latest album, the group's 21st named Desperado Troubadours, was released on March 8 and is produced by country music star Blake Shelton.
"Sawyer Brown’s a household name; they’ve been at this a long time," Barker said. "They have a great following and put on a great show."
Mark Wills will join Sawyer Brown on the main stage as a special guest. He first appeared on country music radio in 1996, topping the charts repeatedly for the following decade. Wills' singles "Wish You Were Here" and "Somethin" earned him a pair of No. 1s on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
The final Pizza Pie Looz main stage performer will be Monica Austin. She resides in Muscatine and was one of the free stage performers at last year's event.
"She did great (last year)," Barker said. "Folks really wanted to see her back, so she gets to be the opener on the main stage this year."
The music starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at the corner of 6th Street and Lincoln Way.
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Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Nevada hosts annual Pizza Pie Looza with Sawyer Brown headliner
