It’s back! EarthQuaker Day, the day-long community celebration, has returned to action after a two-year hiatus. Created by Akron-based effects pedal company EarthQuaker Devices, EarthQuaker Day welcomes everyone to its Akron, Ohio-based facility for a day of activities, prizes and live music, food, and more. 

The family-friendly celebration begins at 7pm, Friday, August 5, at downtown live music venue Musica (51 E. Market St.) for EarthQuaker’s Eve, featuring live music from DYKENYTE, Future Children, Language, Nervous Future, and Oregon Space Trail of Doom. 

EarthQuaker Day officially begins at 11am on Saturday, August 6, with factory tours, pedal workshops, and clinics from experimental audiovisual artist Stephi Duckula, harpist and YouTube star Emily Hopkins, Japanese indie-rock guitarist Shinichi Ito, and EQD founder and lead designer Jamie Stillman.

Next, the afternoon of live music begins at 1pm on the EQD grounds with Eri Snowden-Rodriguez, principal cellist of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Erie Philharmonic, followed by tribute bands to music legends David Bowie and Kate Bush.

The lineup is rounded out with original music from up-and-coming Akron pop/rock band Big Pop, Cleveland singer/songwriter/guitarist Smith Taylor and electronic and funk-infused jazz guitarist Marcus Alan Ward. T

hroughout the event, EQD Day celebrants will be treated to prizes, a smorgasbord of food trucks, games, vendors from Akron and beyond, and even a cooling tent to help keep revelers comfortable in the late summer heat. 

For those who want to keep the celebration going, the official EarthQuaker Day Afterparty happens at 7pm on Saturday at Musica. The evening will feature more live music from regional bands Safe Words, Free Black!, heavy music from Pennsylvania rock trio, Spotlights, and a reunion of ’90s Kent post-hardcore band Harriet the Spy.