Take a break from Erie's motorcycle madness and stop by for local food, brews and live music during the returning three-day festival at West Erie Plaza.

Local food vendors, frustrated by a lack of access to Perry Square during Roar on the Shore, have helped create a new bike week tradition at the West Erie Plaza.

Gears & Grub returns to the Millcreek Township plaza Thursday through Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., with live music and about 30 food, beer, art and craft vendors.

"About two or three weeks before last year's Roar on the Shore we saw an article posted about how local food vendors weren't allowed to sell at Perry Square," said Emily Smicker, project coordinator for VCG Properties, which owns the West Erie Plaza. "Millcreek Township Supervisor John Groh reached out to us on Facebook and asked if we would be willing to do something. 'Sure, why not,' we said."

The local vendors were not permitted to sell at Roar on the Shore because the event features a single official food vendor.

Smicker quickly added that VCG Properties supports Roar on the Shore and that it is "on good terms" with the Manufacturer & Business Association, which organizes the five-day charitable motorcycle rally that continues through Sunday in Perry Square.

But the counterprogramming worked. Most of the 10 food vendors who attended the first Gears & Grub sold all of their food Friday and Saturday.

"It did really well, so we decided to add more things for people to do and see," Smicker said.

Local bands and DJs will play music throughout the three-day event, and craft beer will be sold 5 to 9 p.m. from three local brewers: Millcreek Brewing Co., Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co. and Voodoo Brewery.

"Everything is local," Smicker said. "We hope people visit us, and also go to Roar on the Shore and the Erie BikeFest at Harley-Davidson."

BE THERE

Gears & Grub takes place Thursday through Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., at West Erie Plaza, located near the corner of West 12th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue. The family- and dog-friendly event takes place rain or shine. Live music and beer garden available daily, 5 to 9 p.m.; several local food, brewery, winery and craft vendors will also be on site. For more details, visit www.westerieplaza.com/grub.

SCHEDULE

Thursday

•Noon-5 p.m.: DJ Jonny Evans

•5 p.m.: Clever Norman

•6 p.m.: Matty B

•6:30 p.m.: Rastik with a DJ battle

•7 p.m.: Ron Yarman

•7:30 p.m.: Brooke Surgener

•8 p.m.: The LEC

Friday

•Noon-5 p.m.: DJ Jonny Evans

•4:15 p.m.: BikeFest 2017's Red, White & Chrome First Responders Appreciation Parade departs to Presque Isle State Park. Registration, $20 donation per person, available 1 to 4 p.m., at the dealership, 3712 W. 12th St.

•5 p.m.: Small Town Rollers

•7 p.m.: First to Eleven

•8 p.m.: Tyler Smilo

Saturday

•Noon: Bass Bandage

•2 p.m.: WEHP-FM/Happi 92.7 remote broadcast

•4 p.m.: DJ Voto

•5 p.m.: Optimistic Apocalypse

•6 p.m.: Erika Kuhn

•6:30 p.m.: C. Brown

•7 p.m.: Kevlar

•8 p.m.: Falling Hollywood

Times are approximate; schedule is subject to change.