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)