Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Rib Fest will help out locally

Rib Fest will help out locally

Jun 18, 2008 - 04:07:02 CDT

By ONDINE BAIRD
Bismarck

The Downtowners Association is excited and proud to announce the first of what will be many annual Rip-Roaring Rib Fests held June 19-21 in downtown Bismarck.

A year of exhaustive and detail-oriented planning has gone into this new event, which we hope the people of Bismarck and our surrounding areas will fully take advantage of and enjoy. Our executive director, a local Mandanite, as well as a small committee of volunteers (all down-home North Dakotan folks) have put together a weekend that will be sure not to disappoint.

When attending the Rib Fest, folks can not only feel good to be eating some of the finest barbecue this country has to offer, but they can get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing they are contributing something back to their community. They can peruse the vendor booths (all local companies), enjoy activities in our activity tent (provided by local organizations), have a blast jumping on the inflatable games (locally owned company), enjoy a beverage of their choice (provided by local companies), enjoy cheesecake and coffee for dessert (provided by local a restaurateur), while listening to the best local music our area has to offer. If they want souvenirs, we will have T-shirts, aprons, oven mitts and stickers, all designed, manufactured and distributed by local companies. Local media and sponsors helped design our logos, Web site, radio, print and TV ads, and got the word out to our community about our event.

The Downtowners' fuzzy feelings always come when we get to give back. For years we've talked with our members about what we can do in order to provide for a better downtown experience. We've complied with those thoughts. We want all the people of Bismarck and anyone who enjoys the downtown to know that our profits from the Rib Fest will be used to implement the ideas and projects they've been talking about for years. Together, we can build a better downtown.

(Baird is chair of the Rib Fest committee and past president of the Downtown Business Association. - Editor)

News > Opinion

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Comments

Point to Ponder wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:13 PM:

" And I will go on the record... REO SPEEDWAGON SUCKS, TOO! "

Point to Ponder wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:11 PM:

" I gotta agree with Area Man on the music scene. Give peopel a chance to hear how talented the local musicians are. I have no problem with out of town bands playing, but give equal billing to the locals. "

YumYum wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:20 PM:

" Mmmm. Ribfest. Ribs. Cold drinks. Music. Much fun! YumYum like ribs. Lots of ribs. With lots of sauce. Complainers stay home. More ribs for YumYum! "

Area Man wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:07 PM:

" Best local music? If this is the case, then why do you have two cover bands from Fargo headlining? GypsyFoot, FatDad, Luke Graner, the Falcon Brothers, Heavy Water Radio and Ben Suchy are all great local acts, and you've got them playing in the afternoon while most people will be at work.

Is this how the Downtowners Association "helps out locally"? Is RibFest really about showcasing local talent, or is it about selling more beer to soaks who only want to hear REO Speedwagon covers?" "

Point to Ponder wrote on Jun 18, 2008 12:34 PM:

" The people who are complaining probably think ketchup is too spicy "

Woo-hoo wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:48 AM:

" Good letter Ms. Baird. I was sad to see such a negative letter printed yesterday. For some reason, many local businesses feel some entitlement to be the focus of every event. The Downtowners supports local business, but it doesn't have to only do events with/for them as the main event. This could be a great thing for so many local businesses if it is successful, the Civic Center, the beverage supplier, local sign shops, local print shops, local merchandisers... Local restaurants can participate in the rib competition and get their name out there, and bragging rights until next year. For someone to complain that they can't make the main event ribs is simply silly. This national organization has the know how, the tools, the recipes, and the experience to pull off feeding thousands of people at once. I hazard to say our local restaurants do not.

SUPPORT RIBFEST, make it a huge success in Bismarck. I know that Downtowners have made a huge financial investment in this. Make sure we can bring it back next year. "

Punker wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:17 AM:

" I had no idea this was a 'RIP-ROARIN Ribfest'. Awesome!! "

kk wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:14 AM:

" Bismarck needs more of this so we "out of towners" can feel welcome~ have you tried to break through in this town??? IF you aren't related to someone , good luck so frankly I am happy that we are getting out of towners in Bismarck for the weekend~ a welcome change and tasty food as well! "

MamaMia wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:47 AM:

" Thanks, Ondine, for setting straight all the nay sayers! Excellent letter! Long live Rib Fest! "

Edward wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:20 AM:

" To Ondine: It's a warm and fuzzy feeling. But, I am sure the downtowners are mostly fuzzy. "

Sunshine wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:30 AM:

" Good letter. The naysayers will only put a cloud on their own day. I expect this will be a great time and I plan to bring my family. Anything that gets the community together for a fun, family time is a good thing! "

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