RibFest finds a groove at Riverfront Park
By Dan Linehan, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"It's nice when they ask who we'd like to see on the stage," said Haggerty, of Texas Thunder BBQ, which won the People's Choice award Sunday for the fourth year in a row. The performer they suggested last year,
Taking first place in pulled pork from the judges was Big Boned BBQ. In best ribs, Porky Chicks took the top prize from the judges.
And the Chicago BBQ expert likes that the city-organized event alternates nights between country and rock 'n' roll, all the better to get more fans to try their ribs.
RibFest, in its 17th year, is always striving to see what it can improve upon, organizers say. In other words, they try to make it the sort of tradition that doesn't let tradition get in the way.
This year, a concrete building was added to give drink vendors a better place to sell, and the lawn nearest the stage was sloped to give the crowd a better view.
The building adds to the event's bottom line because it gets customers through the lines faster, said
As with last year, RibFest got an assist from the weather. But for the first time, that wasn't really necessary -- Lyman bought rain insurance for three nights. The
The city also planted arbor vitae trees to help blunt the noise going across the river.
As with other events, the city would like to make money at RibFest but would be happy to break even in light of the business visitors bring to town. Final attendance numbers aren't ready until today, but Lyman estimates there will be between 21,000 and 23,000 attendees.
A number at the higher end of Lyman's estimate for this year would make this the best attended RibFest so far. There were 21,423 attendees last year, up 4 percent from the year before.
Overall, Lyman said RibFest alternates between profits and losses but has roughly broke even overall.
"I foresee over the next two to six years we should be able to make the events more profitable," he said, assuming infrastructure improvements keep getting made.
"The park is beautiful," she said Sunday after trying out the sampler platter at Porky Chicks.
She would like to see more vendors during the day, perhaps selling arts and crafts. Oh, and they like that there's no charge for entry on Sundays.
"This is a sweet venue," said Donahoe, of
Lyman, the civic center's director, said the city is in preliminary talks to add bathrooms to the park. The line of portable bathrooms near the woods is not a permanent solution, he said.
For all the ways Haggerty says city staff try to make her job easier, she gave back a little this year. She presented
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