Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus - The Best Ribs Around

The Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus will celebrate its 29th year in July at the riverfront downtown.

And the 2008 Winners are...

Photo by Randall L. Schieber, 2006 Fest

Announcing The 2008 Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus
American Family Insurance Best Ribs Awards Winners

Columbus Recreation and Parks Director Alan McKnight, and Rick LaVeer - Ohio South Sales Director of American Family Insurance presented the winning rib burners with trophies Sunday evening. Twenty-two rib burners competed for Critic's Choice, Critic's Hometown Choice, Big Whigs' Pig Award, People's Choice, and new this year - Best Sauce.

The 2008 American Family Insurance Best Ribs Awards Winners

Critic's Choice
Champion: Porky N' Beans (Port St. Lucie, Florida)
Runner-up: Desperado's (Hinkley, Ohio)
Third Place: Johnson’s BBQ (Chesapeake, Virginia)

Big Whigs' Pig Award
Champion: Porky N' Beans (Port St. Lucie, Florida)
Runner-up: Famous Dave's (Plymouth, Minnesota)

Critic's Hometown Choice
Champion: Smokin' Joe's Ribs (Columbus, Ohio)
Runner-up: Open Hands Catering (Columbus, Ohio)

People's Choice
Champion: Butch's BBQ (Mt. Laurel, New Jersey)
Runner-up: Famous Dave's (Plymouth, Minnesota)

Best Sauce: Armadillo's (Youngstown, Ohio)

The 2008 Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus Judges

Professional Critics
Jim Budros, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Brian McGrath, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Dave Roebuck, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Frank Simonetti, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Steve Stover, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Mike Taylor, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Jeff Wallace, Kansas City Barbecue Certified Judge
Jeff Lauback, Callahan's Restaurant
James Anderson, Smackie's BBQ

Big Whigs' Pig Award Judges
Rick LaVeer, American Family Insurance
Ron Reynolds, Columbus Distributing
Ken Wright, Anheuser Busch
Gary Morgan, FastTrack Airport Parking
Charles Crew, Columbia Gas
John Johnson, American Family Insurance
DJ Mike J, Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5/104.3
The CW Star Jason, The CW on WWHO-TV
Eric Rickabaugh, Rickabaugh Graphics
Alan McKnight, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department

Congrats to the Winners! Good Luck in 2009!

Barbecue lovers and jazz aficionados need not despair about the closing of the Town Street Bridge.

Despite the closing, the Jazz & Rib Fest will take place this weekend along the riverfront in downtown Columbus on Friday and Saturday.

The festival layout has been adjusted due to the bridge closing. Civic Center Drive from Town Street to Broad Street will now be utilized for event activities.

The Broad Street Bridge will be the connector for pedestrian traffic to travel between the stages and rib burners located on both sides of the river.

The size of the event will remain the same, with the footprint covering Bicentennial Park, Civic Center Drive along the riverfront, Genoa Park and Washington Blvd.

Beginning Friday at 11AM, downtown Columbus will become a hotspot for barbecue and jazz connoisseurs. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy music at two stages from jazz artists including Dafnis Prieto, Either/Orchestra, and David Sanborn, among others.

Date: July 25 - 27, 2008

• Friday and Saturday, 11AM - 10PM, Sunday 11AM - 8PM

Location: Columbus Riverfront

This is one of my favorite festivals! Over 500,000 people attend this dynamic event. Not only is the food excellent but the entertainment is fantastic!

This is the largest rib festival in the USA. More than 30 ribbers from all over serve their special sauces and recipes.

Can you imagine more than 100,000 pounds of ribs are served?

Oh and just imagine going from stand to stand and ordering the taste testers! You'll find the best of the best ribs at this festival.

2008 Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus Lineup

The music is dynamic. Music fills the air day and night.

This year's lineup includes David Sanborn, Charles Tolliver Big Band, The Either/Orchestra with Ethiopian Special Guests, Randy Weston's African Rhythms Sextet, Simone, The Curtis Fuller Super Band, Albino, The Motet, Dafnis Prieto Sextet, Will Bernard, The Maurice Brown Effect and Eric Person's Meta-Four.

Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus - Entertainment Schedule

Friday, July 25, 2008

Bicentennial Park Stage
6PM – Albino! Afro-Beat
8:30PM – The Either/Orchestra with Ethiopian Special Guests Mulatu Astatke, Hana Shenkute, Minale Dagnew and Setegn Atanaw World Ethiopian

Riverfront Amphitheater
6PM – The Motet Live Electronica, Indie-Rock, Instrumental
8:30PM – Randy Weston's African Rhythms Sextet Jazz Piano

Saturday, July 26

Bicentennial Park Stage
6PM – Dafnis Prieto Sextet Latin Jazz
8:30PM – Charles Tolliver Big Band High-Octane Hard-Bop

Riverfront Amphitheater
6PM – Will Bernard Jazz Guitar Funk
8:30PM – David Sanborn Contemporary

Sunday, July 27

Bicentennial Park Stage
4PM – Maurice Brown Effect Hard-Bop meets New-Groove
6:30PM – Simone Jazz, Neo-Soul

Riverfront Amphitheater
4PM – Eric Person & Meta-Four Nu-Jazz
6:30PM – The Curtis Fuller Super Band Hard-Bop

Photo by Randall L. Schieber, 2006 Fest

You'll be able to stroll down Civic Center Drive, Town Street to Main Street and across the Town Street Bridge, on to Washington Street from Broad Street to Town Street. So enjoy eating! You'll be able to walk it off!

Vote for your favorite ribber!

Performances will be on the Genoa Park Stage and the Bicentennial Park Stage.

Photo by Randall L. Schieber, 2006 Fest

For more information, please visit the Jazz and Rib Fest Website.

Hearing Impaired: 1-800-750-0750