The 25th annual RibFest is coming to Huntington in September this year, featuring a wide array of attractions, vendors and food.
RibFest founder Bill Picozzi said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s looking forward to celebrating the eventÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s milestone.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis is a great year. This is the 25th anniversary. I started it 25 years ago and it has blossomed into the largest barbecue rib and food festival in West Virginia,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Picozzi said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt features the main attraction that appeals to all the festival goers, we have world-class barbecue rib dishes from around the country.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Picozzi said award-winning barbecue rib vendors from several different states will be coming to RibFest, including Cowboys BBQ from Texas, Carolina Rib King from South Carolina, JohnsonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s BBQ from Virginia, Old Time Barbecue from North Carolina, and Moonshine BBQ from Kentucky.
Ribs are not the only thing being sold at RibFest, Picozzi said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” there also will be food options for those who are not as interested in the ribs.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have barbecue rib vendors from all over the country, serving the best barbecue ribs, chicken and sauces that youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll ever eat,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Picozzi said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAnd for those who donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t like ribs, we have many other food vendors serving food. Filipino food, Mexican food, Italian food; a lot, lot more.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Picozzi said there will also be dessert options.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have a lot of dessert trailers serving donuts, funnel cakes, a lot of different ice creams, sundaes, snow cones, slushies,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Picozzi said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou name it, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all at the RibFest.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Picozzi said there will also be an area with attractions meant for children and families at the festival.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re gonna have 15 to 20 inflatables for the kids, all kinds of inflatable rides. You name the inflatable, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be there,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Picozzi said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be called the Kid Zone. In the Kid Zone, you have the inflatables, you have a pony ride, you have a petting zoo. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a great family attraction there.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Picozzi said there will be a peopleÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s choice vote during RibFest to vote for the best ribs and the best sauce. The votes will be tallied on Sunday, Sept. 7, and Picozzi said the winning vendor will receive bragging rights and a large trophy.
RibFest will also feature live music performances throughout the festival.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe big highlight is on Saturday night. We have the famous 10-piece Esquires band, the most famous nostalgia group in West Virginia. TheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been around for years and theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll be playing,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Picozzi said.
There will also be a variety of tribute bands playing at RibFest, including a Blues Brothers tribute band, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, a Heart tribute band and more.
A beer garden will be available at the festival for attendees who are 21 and older.
The 2025 RibFest runs from Sept. 4 to Sept. 7 at Harris Riverfront Park. The festival will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. on Sunday.
