At Left Hand Brewing in Longmont this weekend, there will be dancing. Probably some sunburned arms. A bunch of kebabs. There will definitely be giant Jenga, cold beverages and a handful of bands cycling through the stage. And, if things go according to plan, a few hundred people will spend their Saturday doing the things that festivals are best for — hanging out, soaking up music and enjoying a good reason to be outside.

But Roots & Rhythm Festival isn’t merely an excuse to drink beer on a hot summer weekend (we have plenty of occasions to do that). It’s the first-ever music festival organized by Community Food Share, a nonprofit that’s been working to end hunger in Boulder and Broomfield counties since 1981. Kicking off at noon Saturday, Community Food Share will take over the lawn at Left Hand Brewing,1265 Boston Ave., Longmont, for a full day of music, food and community — all with the goal of raising awareness and support for the Louisville-based nonprofit’s work.

The inaugural festival was, according to Nubia Saenz, Community Food Share’s culture engagement manager, built on a simple truth: Food and music are two things everyone loves — and needs.

“I’ve always believed that music and food are two of life’s true universals,” Saenz said. “They cross every language and every border, bringing people together in a way that nothing else can. When you combine both for a good cause, you create something that everyone can share.”

Thanks to that philosophy, the festival’s foundation was laid on a shared love of snacks and soundtracks.

Attendees can look forward to a lineup that blends a wide range of genres and backgrounds, from Latin rhythms and Americana

to funk, folk and soul. According to Saenz, Community Food Share wanted the music to feel as diverse as the people in the crowd.

“We didn’t want it to have just one type of music,” Saenz said. “This event is for all ages and all kinds of people, and I hope we can bring different cultures together, too.”

The lineup includes Boulder Day School teachers performing as Mackenzie Rae & Buckshot Moon, the Latin music energy of Chimbangle and Hazel Miller & The Collective, led by the powerhouse jazz, blues and R&B vocalist Miller. Other acts on the bill include Ghost of Caroline, singer-songwriter Mike Chiasson, and Thumpin’, an R&B and funk group known for turning laid-back crowds into dance floors.

“It’s been really fun reaching out to all these different bands and styles of music,” Saenz said. “That’s something I’m really proud of. With this lineup, we’re not just catering specifically to a younger age group, or an older one, we’re creating something that connects different communities, and that’s really important to us.”

Attendees can absolutely expect to cut a rug out on the dance floor in front of the stage. They can also expect an array of food trucks, cold beer and that feeling of goodwill that can only

come after selflessly helping a vulnerable population. All of this, and a healthy buzz in the Colorado Sunshine, can be caught for $25 on a ticket. Tickets can be found at communityfoodshare.org.

The event will feature several food trucks, including Stick Around Skewers, Ms. Bacon and Ruby Anne’s Snack Shack, along with lawn games and family-friendly activities.

Community Food Share distributes over 30,000 meals each day through partnerships with more than 40 local organizations, including Emergency Family Assistance Association, Sister Carmen, OUR Center, Broomfield FISH and the Round Pantry. Saenz said the festival aims to highlight the organization’s ongoing work and increase awareness about local food insecurity.

“Hunger doesn’t always look the way people expect,” Saenz said. “Life can change quickly — someone loses a job or faces a sudden emergency, like we saw after the Marshall Fire. People lost everything, and families who had never been inside a food bank suddenly needed help. We were here for them, and we helped them navigate that experience and break through a lot of misconceptions about what it means to ask for food assistance.”

By the time the sun is low in the sky, Saenz said she hopes people leave Roots & Rhythm with a clearer picture of what Community Food Share does, why it matters, and maybe even a newfound urge to get involved.

“If this turns into something people want to do every year, I’d be thrilled,” she said. “Maybe next time, someone will walk up and say, ‘I want to be on the stage,’ or, ‘How do I help put this whole thing together?’ That would mean the world.”