Rib vendors listed for 2014 VW Rib Fest

Van Wert Area CVB information

The entertainment has been announced, and, now, so are the rib vendors and other concessionaires who will be at the eighth annual Van Wert Rib Fest.

Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Larry Lee said this year’s event will be held Friday and Saturday, August 8 and 9. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday with 12 food vendors ready to serve some the best festival foods in the area. On Saturday, the gates will open at 11 a.m.

Rib vendors participating this year include Gibson’s Barnyard BBQ from Convoy, Low & Slow BBQ from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Pigtails BBQ from West Salem, Pork Brothers BBQ from Lima, Smoke Shack BBQ from Pickerington, and Timmy’s BBQ from Garrett, Indiana.

“We think we’ve got a great line-up of rib teams this year,” Lee said. “We have local favorites, like Gibson’s and Pork Brothers, and we have Smoke Shack, who has been a part of each of the past events.  Lee said event organizers are excited to welcome Pigtails BBQ from eastern Ohio, which also participated in the 2014 Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest, while also welcoming back Low and Slow, which was part of last year’s event, and Timmy’s BBQ, which was at the Rib Fest two years ago.

“In addition to the rib teams, who will be providing a variety of meat selections and sides, there will be six other food vendors on site,” Lee said. “Annie’s Concessions will be offering fries, funnel cakes, and lemon shake-ups, Fiske Concessions will be selling french fries and ice tea, CJ’s Shaved Ice will be on hand, as well as Sycamore Ice Cream, and Mike’s Wisconsin Cheese Curds will also be available; Saucy Sows will be there selling a variety of sauces and batters.”

As previously announced, the 2014 edition of the Rib Fest will feature outstanding musical entertainment.  At 5 p.m. Friday, local group Bad Advice will be on stage. Bad Advice is a blues-based rock-n-roll band that puts on a very entertaining and crowd interactive show. The Earthquakers from Erie, Pennsylvania, will follow Bad Advice at 7 p.m.

“They were a real crowd-pleaser last year, so we invited them back to do a Friday night show.” Lee said.  At 10:30 p.m. another local group, Jackpot, will be on stage to round out the evening. On Saturday, local favorite Double Kik will open the entertainment stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by Nashville Crush at 7 p.m.  “The popularity of Nashville Crush is phenomenal in this area and we hope they draw a significant crowd,” Lee said.

Saturday evening will conclude with a performance by Scotty Brachter, a blues artist from Middletown.  “Scotty was here three years ago, but his performance was cut short due to stormy weather and we wanted to get him back here and give him an opportunity to do his full show,” Lee explained.

Other events on Saturday at Rib Fest include the annual Youth Wiffleball and Cornhole tournaments.  Registration forms for these events can be obtained at the CVB office at 136 E. Main Street or online at www.vanwertribfest.com. Deadline for the Wiffleball Tournament is Monday, August 4, while cornholers may either enter early or same-day registration will be accepted.

“We are pleased to be working with the United Way of Van Wert County on a fundraising project called “When Pigs Fly,” Lee commented. For a $10 donation, are residents can “buy” a plastic pig that will be dropped, along with up to 499 others, over an open spot at the Rib Fest. A “pig-pen” will be marked on the ground and the owner of the pig landing closest to the pen will receive $650, the second closest will get $350 and the pig landing the farthest away from the pig pen will earn $250 for its owner.

“What a fun way to support this vital local agency,” Lee said.  Pigs (tickets) may be purchased from any United Way Board member, at the United Way Office at 1151 Westwood Drive, or at the Rib Fest.

“We are also happy to have the YWCA of Van Wert County with us,” Lee said. “They will be sponsoring Pig Races at this year’s Rib Fest. Last year was the first time for the pig races and they were a big hit.”  The YWCA will use the proceeds of the pig races to help support its transitional living program and domestic violence services.

Babes Out on Bikes, a local female motorcycle group, will be having a Poker Run, departing from the Rib Fest at noon on Saturday. The money raised from the run will be used to help local breast cancer victims.

“We are really excited about all the things happening at this year’s Rib Fest.,” Lee said. “Each year we try to make the event better than it was the year before.  With all the great support from the community, with the great line-up of entertainment added to the great food brought by our vendors, and all the fun activities taking place, we believe we’ll have the best rib fest to date.”

“We are very excited to welcome the Van Wert High School Class of 1979, the Crestview Class of 1979 and the Antwerp High School Class of 2004 to the Rib Fest,” Lee said. “These classes will be holding their class reunions at Rib Fest.

Admission price for this year’s event is $5 per person on Friday evening, $2 on Saturday before 7 p.m. and $5 after 7 p.m.  Children under 12 will be admitted free both days.

This year’s Rib Fest sponsors include Iberdrola Renewables, Citizens National Bank, Century Link, Cooper Farms, First Financial Bank, First Bank of Berne, Van Wert Federal, Leland Smith Insurance, Scott Equity, Stahl Stoller Meyer Insurance/Buckeye Insurance, K & L Ready Mix, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Young’s Waste Service, Eaton Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, Van Wert Propane, Van Wert Manor, Ayers Mechanical Group, Chris Wilson, Purmort Brothers Insurance, Tecumseh Packaging Solutions, Thatcher Insurance, Martha Balyeat, Store & Haul, Fricker’s, the Ken Feld Group,  WERT/WKSD Radio/The Van Wert independent, and GLM Transport.