Kick-off summer with Happy Harry’s Ribfest

By Charly Haley
Contributing Writer

The 16th annual Happy Harry’s Ribfest will be at the Fargodome on June 8-12. The event will feature the variety of barbecue that its patrons have come to expect, as well as a new twist on the event’s usual line-up of live music.

There will be seven nationally-known rib cookers at the festival: Cowboy’s Barbeque & Rib Company from Weatherford, TX, Johnson’s Bar-B-Que from Chesapeake, Va., Willingham’s World Champion BBQ from Annandale, Minn., Aussom Aussie’s BBQ from Pittsburgh, Porky ‘N’ Beans from Port St. Lucie, Fla., Rasta Joe’s BBQ from Plymouth, Ind., and Desperado’s BBQ and Ribs from Hinckley, OH.

Their styles of barbecue range from classic American to Memphis style to Australian “Barbie” to Jamaican. For more information on the Ribfest cookers, visit fargoribfest.com/?p=6.

Bernie Larson, director of event services at the Fargodome and event coordinator for the Happy Harry’s Ribfest said in addition to the barbecue, there will be lots of traditional fair food.

“The deep-fried Twinkies to the corn-on-the-cob, your standard fair food,” Larson said. “We have plenty of concessionaires available on that side. Although the real crutch of the event obviously is the barbecue.That’s kind of what people come to taste.”

Barbecue will be available throughout the Ribfest, but on June 8-10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ribfest-goers will be able to enjoy the barbecue at Ribfest’s “Lip-Smackin’ Lunch,” where, according to the Ribfest website, “You buy the meat and the sides are our treat!” A free gift will be given to the first 100 people at Lip-Smackin’ Lunch each day. Also, parking and admission to Lip-Smackin’ Lunch is free.

The fun isn’t just for adults; Ribfest features a special Riblet Fest on June 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for kids.

“It’s geared toward more younger kids,” Larson said. “There’s discounts on the carnival games and the inflatable games galore … there’s a face-painting area, college mascots, we have clowns, balloons, all sorts of activities for the kids.”

A coveted Ribfest attraction, other than the barbecue, is the live music. This year, the lineup includes a variety of music, from country to grunge.

June 8 will feature 32 Below, a country rock band from West Fargo; country musician Rodney Atkins from Nashville, Tenn., is headlining on June 9, and on June 11 alternative/grunge band Candlebox from Seattle will be featured.

On June 10, for the first time Ribfest is featuring two musical acts on one night. Outside on the Ribfest stage will be 12-piece classic rock horn band Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome of Fargo, and inside the Fargodome will be country duo Montgomery Gentry from Nashville, Tenn.

Larson said he likes to think of the Ribfest as the official kick-off of summer.

“It’s a great turnout every year,” he said. “We feel we have a strong entertainment lineup again this year, especially with the addition of two concerts at the same time, one inside and one outside, so I think there’s going to be quite the genre mix there with country inside and more of the jazz, bluesy kind of jam-band with Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome outside on the Ribfest stage.”

Ribfest gate admission is $5, and parking is $3. Admission is $3 with a coupon that can be found at Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, Hot Spring Portable Spas, Fargo Tire Service, Coldwell Banker First Realty, Tesoro, Coldstone Creamery and NAPA Farnam’s Auto Parts.

Montgomery Gentry tickets are separate and cost $25 at the door, $20 in advance. Advance Montgomery Gentry tickets will include admission to the Ribfest on June 10.

Happy Harry’s Ribfest is sponsored by Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, Coldwell Banker First Realty, Coldstone Creamery, Fargo Tire Service, NAPA Farnam’s Auto Parts, Tesoro, Michelob Golden Light and Miller Lite, Muscatell Burns Ford, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Red River Valley Speedway, Rasmussen College, Hot Spring Portable Spas, State Bank & Trust, the Fargodome, Essentia Health and Go Radio Broadcasting.

Rodney Atkins myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rodneyatkins
Candlebox myspace: http://www.myspace.com/candlebox

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If You Go:
What: Happy Harry’s Ribfest
When: June 8-12
Where: Fargodome