The 29th Annual Jazz and Rib Fest will commence July 25 through July 27 at Bicentennial and Genoa Park in downtown Columbus.
One of the most popular festivals in Columbus, this year should prove to provide another great weekend filled with a wide array of cool jazz music and saucy finger-licking ribs from 22 different rib burners from around the country.
Becky Lonardo, spokeswoman for the Jazz and Rib Fest, is confident visitors to this year’s festival will have a variety of activities, music, food and community-bonding to keep everyone thoroughly entertained.
“People should expect larger-than-life rib set-ups. We have a great music line-up this year and something new to the festival is we have added a ‘best sauce’ contest since most of the rib burners also sell their sauce,” she said.
Lonardo said the previous year’s festivals have always been a success, so she anticipates this year will not be any different.
“Everyone loves BBQ in the summer. The whole downtown smells like BBQ and there’s great music. It’s very relaxing. The weather usually cooperates which makes it a great day. It’s a nice time to spread out a blanket and enjoy the music,” she said.
One of the most popular aspects of the festival is the variety of ribs available. Dennis Carrino of Porky N’ Beans, has participated in the rib contest since the origination of the festival. Winner of the two previous year’s titles, he finds the Jazz and Rib Festival in Columbus to be an exciting event.
“Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest is probably the third largest in the country. As far as attendance goes, everybody does a good job down there. People enjoy themselves for the day and listen to free music,” he said.
Lonardo said the music this year has enough variety to entertain all.
“Albino is going to be a really great performance. Their shows are choreographed and it’s such an upbeat show,” she said. “Either/Orchestra is an Ethiopian group that has artists that will be performing with them and will be a really great show. Simone is a former Broadway star and she’s branching out into the jazz world.”
Other artists performing this year are Vernon Hairston Trio, a contemporary jazz band; Randy Weston’s African Rhythms Sextet, specializing in jazz piano; Dave Powers Quartet, a jazz-blues-funk-soul group; Will Bernard, dedicated to jazz guitar funk; a Latin jazz sextet by the name of Dafnis Priesto; and the most notable name, David Sanborn, a Grammy Award-winning contemporary jazz musician with 22 solo albums to his credit.
Lonardo noted several other aspects of the festival that visitors should look forward to seeing.
“We have a lot of mobile marketers this year like Texas on Tour which will offer virtual kayaking through Texas and the Nintendo Wii Fit Movement booth,” she said.
Merchandise vendors will also be present selling everything from jewelry and clothes to hats and sunglasses.
The Jazz and Rib Festival will kick off at 11 a.m. and last until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s festival will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 8 p.m.
For more information about the festival or to check the events line up and schedule, visit hotribscooljazz.org.
Amanda Forbes can be reached at [email protected].
