Columbus Jazz and Ribs Fest 2008

Columbus Jazz and Ribs Fest gets saucier

by Dwayne Steward
Entertainment Coordinator
The Advoacte
July 24, 2008

Missed the Newark Jazz and Rib Fest? Don’t fret: Columbus kicks off its 29th annual version of the music and food extravaganza Friday, but this time there’s a twist. The 22 rib aficionados competing will have a chance to show their signature sauces in the first Best Sauce competition.

“A lot of these places sell their sauces retail,” said Becky Lonardo, the festival’s communications coordinator. “It adds a completely different aspect.”

A crew of professionals from the Kansas City Barbecue Society and local restaurateurs plan to be on hand to judge the rib burning hopefuls.

“The rib awards are a really big deal,” Lonardo said. “They travel from all over the country to compete, bringing huge sets with all their banners and awards they’ve won lined up in front of their booths.”

Each rib burner will be judged in categories including Critics’ Choice, Critics’ Hometown Choice, Best Sauce, Big Whigs’ Pig Award (in which judges include local media personalities and sponsors) and the People’s Choice.

A Columbus summer staple, the rib fest, produced by the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks, is expected to attract about 300,000 people. Local and national acts will fill the festival’s lineup on two stages at Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Drive, and the Riverfront Amphitheater, 303 W. Broad St.

This year’s major headliners include Albino, a thrilling African jazz ensemble, neo-soul singer Simone and the legendary saxophonist David Sanborn.

“David Sanborn had been the talk of the festival; people’s ears are perking up about him,” Lonardo said. “We’ve got a really diverse lineup, and I think it’s going to be really exciting.”

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday and runs until 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Call (614) 645-3800 or visit www.hotribscooljazz.org for more information.