If you’re looking for a backyard cookout atmosphere that isn’t in your backyard, then you’ll want to head to the 28th Annual BBQ Ribfest this weekend at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne.
The RibFest will feature ribs (of course) and other barbeque dishes from pit masters from South Carolina to Arkansas to Texas to Ohio!
As far as entertainment, the RibFest has always prided itself on being a haven for Blues music. While there will be plenty of smooth and folksy Blues music, there will also be cover bands that feature the sounds of Eddie Money, John Mellencamp, and ZZ Top this weekend.
Mark Chappuis started the RibFest after he attended a similar event in Toledo nearly 30 years ago.
“Everybody had big smiles on their faces. The smoke was wafting, and the barbecue smells were going everywhere. They had a nice band on the stage and when guys had all their trophies stacked up, and it’s like, wow, this is really kind of cool,” Chappuis said.
Chappuis is a self-described “barbecue nut.”
“And frankly, part of the success of our event is, I think everybody is a barbecue nut. For anybody that tells you they can’t stand ribs, I’ll show you a 100 of them that will tell you they love them, you know?” Chappuis said.
The RibFest has remained steady with attendance and brings in plenty of people from the region, but it also draws people in from Muncie and Defiance, Ohio. The “Hoosier Hospitality” is what keeps bringing people back year after year.
“I hear that a lot, too, from people, about Hoosiers and our hospitality here, people that come from out of the area go, ‘Man, people are so friendly in Fort Wayne,’” Chappuis said.
There will be plenty of classic festival food, including the always-reliable lemon shake-ups. Chappuis describes the overall vibe as really laid back and mellow with a kumbaya feel, where everyone’s just there to relax and enjoy themselves.
The improvements to downtown Fort Wayne have done a great deal to enhance the RibFest.
Once you’re inside the gates at Headwaters Park, the RibFest hopes you’re transported to your back porch with the grill going, some music playing, and that Americana feeling washing over you.
“If there’s a favorite tradition in America, it’s grilling out. It’s cooking out. Most of the time, that’s always been pretty synonymous with a good time,” Chappuis said.
For a good time at RibFest, you can find the full schedule at https://bbqribfest.com/.
Make sure to stay tuned to the NEI Blog and our social media channels all summer long for more festival content!
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