The second annual Plaza Palooza at Plaza Diane is Aug. 12 and will offer people a chance to listen to live music, eat, drink and, for the kids, do some activities and leave with a free new backpack and art supplies.

“We just want people to come down, have fun and enjoy,” said Shelby Wetzel, Plaza Diane board president. “We hope to make it a fun afternoon and evening to send away summer.”

This year’s free event from 4-8 p.m. will feature one headline live band led by a former Powell resident in Josey and the Whalers.

The varied North Dakota band plays funk to blues, pop to reggae, playing new takes on classic tunes as well as a few original songs. It features Jeff Peck on guitar, Hoppy Hopson on the drums and former Powell resident Josey Nickles on keyboard bass, keyboard and vocals.

Wetzel said they’ll play multiple sets through the evening but take the stage throughout, as opposed to the three smaller acts they did last year.

Going big on live music has been a key to the transformation of Plaza Diane’s annual summer arts extravaganza from the earlier Renaissance festivals to the new, more musical-focused format.

“We had done a summer arts festival different ways,” she said. “We did a survey a few years ago about what people wanted to see, and they wanted more musical activities.”

So the organization expanded its Plaza at 5:30 summer concert series, invested in better sound equipment via a grant and put more of a musical focus on the arts festival.

“We responded and wanted to make it a cool thing where people want to come down and hang out,” Wetzel said.

People will be able to listen to music and purchase food from food trucks Get Loaded, Pizza Hut and Millstone, which will be selling pizza and beer.

Booths with crafters and local bakery items will be set up, along with a variety of activities for kids. Plaza Diane is also giving away Color-Your-Backpacks filled with color markers for kids.