Seven grilling gurus to feed Erie fans while the bands play on at 4-day downtown rib fest
32nd Erie's Wild Rib Cook Off & Music Festival
Sept. 7-9, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Perry Square. Features national and local barbecue teams plus music, vendors and more. Free admission. 814-899-5177, erieribfest.com
Contestants and descriptions come from https://erieribfest.com/cowboys-bbq/. They include:
Carolina Rib King – South Carolina
Also known as "King Solomon," a native of Georgetown, South Carolina, honors his Gullah heritage by combining the tastes of the low country with succulent meat. The Rib King learned to cook barbecue from his grandfather and fathe, but created his own style with herbs and spices. For more information, visit https://erieribfest.com/carolina-rib-king/.
Cowboy’s BBQ – Texas
Cowboys BBQ & Rib Co. is a barbecue competition team with more than 32 years of experience. Enrique and Lauren Vega have won more than 450 National Titles to date for “Best Ribs” “Best Sauce” “People’s Choice” and more. Cowboys travels more than 10,000 miles a year competing. erieribfest.com/cowboys-bbq/
Desperados – Ohio
In 1987, while searching for a used car in a magazine, Donna Rice's now late husband, Lee Rice, was stopped by a personal ad for Donna. They married and combined his business background and her home economics teaching and started traveling across the country with their barbecue. Lee died in 2012, but Donna kept it up and earned the nickname "BBQ queen" and became one of few women pit masters. You wouldn't know it from her accolades, which include two-time Best Ribs in America awards, which included a $15,000 prize. They've also won in Erie, so you'd better believe she's bringing her A-game. https://erieribfest.com/desperados-bbq-rib-co/
Johnson’s BBQ – Virginia
Founded in 1989 after a successful military career, Johnson’s BBQ is the culmination of more than 75 years of a family barbecue tradition. With 36 years of experience in satisfying everyone from connoisseurs to small children, Col. Dan Johnson has enjoyed satisfying taste buds, and critical acclaim seems to follow him wherever he goes. erieribfest.com/johnsons-bbq/
Off the Bone – Ohio
Petey Marshall had barbecue in his DNA. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Petey’s Mother and “Grammy,” his maternal grandmother, would prepare barbecue, as he describes, “low and slow,” or on lower temperatures, and for longer periods of time than most. It's working. At 26, he’s been winning barbecue contests all over the country for seven years. https://erieribfest.com/off-the-bone/
Outlaw Barbecue Revolution – Erie
Michael Loveranes is well-known as a pit master in these parts, ever since he played that role in the Discovery Channel's "Undercover Millionaire" in which a team of Erieites built Underdog BBQ, which is also competing in the tournament. His restaurant, Outlaw Barbecue Revolution, 3802 Elmwood Ave., has a unique philosophy, that barbecue "brings people together on many different levels."
"We love that barbecue cannot be rushed," Loveranes said. "We will continually learn and practice our craft to push the boundaries of creating both the tangible and intangible." erieribfest.com/outlaw/
More: Wattsburg farmer supplies Erie Rib Fest pit masters with 8 kinds of barbecue-grade wood
Underdog BBQ – Erie
This is the most interesting story involving Erie among all the talent that's setting up shop in Perry Square. Many people have heard that they were the subject of a Discovery Channel TV show "Undercover Billionaire." You know the one where Glenn Stearns took $100 and turned it into Underdog BBQ, which moved into the old Perkins on West Eighth Street. They got their start with a bang by winning the first Erie Rib Fest they attended in 2019. "We’re proud to be a woman and LGBTQ+ owned business, and we’ve worked hard to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors," they wrote in their description at erieribfest.com/underdog-bbq/.
More: 'Evolved' Underdog BBQ opens at new location in former Perkins. We talk to kitchen manager
Rib Fest can't-miss events
Ladies' Night, Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. Merch, drawings, giveaways with women-owned businesses. All are welcome. Includes one-of-a-kind artwork, crafts, information about women-supplied services. Main stage bands include Hard Luck Story and The Country Kind.
Rib Judging: 5:30 p.m. Friday. Read up on the contestants at https://erieribfest.com/rib-team-information/. Then watch the judges blind-taste ribs and sauces from eight barbecue teams. Winners will be announced on Saturday night at approximately 7 p.m. from the main stage.
More: What it's like eating your way through piles of meat as a barbecue judge
Main stage Saturday, includes Monochrome Studios from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; local talent, 2 to 4 p.m., Reflect and Reform, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; awards 7:15 to 7:30 p.m.; The I-90s 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Main stage Sunday acts include Erie Heights Brass Ensemble, noon to 2 p.m. and Riff Riders 3 to 6 p.m.
“Cornhole For A Cause – Aiming For Autism” Cornhole Tournament : Saturday, starting at 9:30 p.m., If it’s raining, the tournament will be held under cover of the big top tent. For more information and to sign up a two-person team, visit www.AutismSocietyNWPA.org. Single elimination, blind draw, 15-minute time limit, must be 18 years old. Limited slots available. Cash prizes go to the top two teams. Proceeds go to the Autism Society NWPA.
More Rib Fest features
People's Choice award. Vote for your favorite and be entered into a drawing for a barbecue picnic.
Kids' fun zone including ride-o-rama, Thursday, Friday 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Four-hour passes are $12. A discount coupon is hiding on the Ribfest website.
Carnival games with prizes.
Vendor booths.
Thursday is college night, with hip hop and rap group Crew Life, and comedy, 8 to 10 p.m.
Contact Jennie Geisler at 814-870-1885.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Who will take home the trophy when 7 grilling gurus meet at rib fest?
