Mankato Rib Fest

“I don’t think there will be another summer where I don’t go to rib fest”

Madison Diemert
News Editor

Mankato Rib Fest has come and gone again this year, and as my first rib fest experience it was better than I had hoped. 

 

Mankato Rib Fest offers everything from amazing musical acts to copious amounts of food. Rib Fest 2018 was held at the Vetter Stone Amphitheater from August second to August fifth. Tickets went on sale for $10, and this year rib fest offered a new feature: reserved seating, which was $29.50 per person. I bought a general admission ticket and attended the event with my boyfriend on August 4. 

 

Aside from the sweltering heat and constant sweat running down my back, the day couldn’t have been more perfect. We stayed the entire day and watched the musical acts- Stacy K, David Sandersfeld, Jesse Larson, Tonic, and Sugar Ray- and ate, you guessed it, a lot of ribs. 

 

Along with ribs rib fest has a slew of dishes it offers from pulled pork to various kinds of fair food. You can even vote on which ribs were the best, and of course my boyfriend had more than his fair share. 

 

There was also plenty of people who showed up to rib fest. I asked a few people what they thought and only heard good reviews. One couple said that it was their 6th year attending rib fest and it’s become a tradition for them. A few of the college students who attended said it was a lot of fun. One girl in particular said, “since coming to Mankato I never thought there would be anything to do during the summer, but this is my third year coming to rib fest and it’s a staple to my summers.” 

 

Personally, this was my first year attending. I had heard about the festival beforehand but had never been able to go. As long as I’m going to school in Mankato I don’t think there will be another summer where I don’t go to rib fest.