Rib Fest 2014 entertainment announced

Van Wert Rib Fest information

Following a very successful 2013 Rib Fest, the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rib Fest Committee have been hard at work making plans for the eighth annual Rib Fest, to be held August 8-9 next year.

The committee decided to move the Rib Fest forward one week in order to take advantage of the visitors coming to the annual Highway 127 Yard Sale and the Lincoln Highway Yard Sale. In 2014, the two sales will happen on the same weekend, bringing a great many shoppers to the Van Wert area.

“The Rib Fest has benefited each year by the people passing through Van Wert along the Highway 127 sale route,” said Larry Lee, CVB director. “We’ve talked to many people at the Rib Fest who tell us they were just passing by the fairgrounds following he yard sale path, saw the crowd, smelled the ribs and decided to stop.  Some of these people even end up overnight in Van Wert.”

The Rib Fest committee was so pleased with the turnout at the last event, its members voted to bring big-time entertainment to the Friday night event, as well as the usual Saturday nigh event.

“The crowd really showed their appreciation for The Earthquakers, who were last year’s Saturday night band, so we decided to bring them back for Friday night next year,” Lee said.

The Earthquakers is a four-man band from Erie, Pa., that has a sizeable following in western Ohio.

Nashville Crush, a band new to the Van Wert Rib Fest, but well known in the area, will be the headline band for Saturday night. This seven-member band plays a fusion of Country and Rock music provided by some of the best musicians in the business.

“They put on a fantastic show,” Lee said, “and people who admit they don’t like Country think this group is great.”

Additional area bands will be signed to play before and after each of the headline bands

Lee would also like to remind anyone working on class reunion plans for next summer, that the Rib Fest is a great place to hold a reunion. Classmates will have a great selection of food, outstanding entertainment, and a great time at the Rib Fest.

Special reunion packages are available. Call the Convention and Visitors Bureau office at 419.238.9378 for  more information.