Local blues guitarist Paul Gabriel is one of the featured acts Saturday at the Black-Eyed and Bluesfest. (Courant file photo) (Dennis Hohenberger/Special to Courant)

The Black-Eyed & Bluesfest, billed as the largest and longest-running blues festival in the state, returns to the Bushnell Park band pavilion this weekend, featuring some of the state’s best-known blues guitarists and harmonica players. The free public festival happens Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Saturday’s line-up is studded with well-known local blues/rock guitarists:

On Sunday the stage is set for this year’s Connecticut Blues Challenge held by the Connecticut Blues Society. Five bands compete, and the winner gets a cash prize and the opportunity to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

The semifinalists playing Sunday in the park are:

The festival ends Sunday evening with an All-Star Blues Jam led by Phil “Deep Fry” Diiorio (of the Beale Street East band) and the Connecticut Blues Society All-Stars.

Last year’s festival was not able to include the blues challenge, so this is the grand return of that element.

Black-Eyed Sally’s restaurant on Asylum Street, which has been organizing the festival for more than 20 years, will once again be selling food and drinks in the park while the bands play.

Black-Eyed Sally’s overcame several obstacles to make sure last year’s festival happened after having to cancel the 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. With the personal encouragement of Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and an emergency grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council discretionary fund, the Black-Eyed & Bluesfest was one of a few summer events that were able to rebound quickly after the COVID-19 shutdown.

In the time between last year’s Black-Eyed & Bluesfest and this one, Black-Eyed Sally’s was also able to restart its regular live blues series at the restaurant.

This year, outdoor music festivals are once again a steady summer presence in Bushnell Park and elsewhere in the city. Hartford’s “Summer in the City” promotional campaign is touting three other big festivals in Bushnell Park — the Taste of Caribbean and Jerk Festival on Aug. 6, the West Indian Independence Celebration on Aug. 13 and the Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival de Coqui on Aug. 21 — as well the Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival on Aug. 20 at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza and the Hartford Pride Fest and Concert Sept. 10 on Trumbull Street.

More information on the blues fest at blackeyedsallys.com.

Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com.