Hungry people walk booth-to-booth at Ribfest, sampling sauces and pork from as for away as Texas. Most booths advertised past festival wins with trophies or signs.
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People licked their fingers clean and kept their foreheads dry Saturday as heat rose to 80 degrees during South Charleston's 12th-annual Ribfest.
Competitors began arriving Thursday from states including Ohio, South Carolina and Texas to have their barbeque sauces judged by hungry festivalgoers.
At the recently cleared site across MacCorkle Avenue from Dow Chemical, booths were set up for cooks that showed off their past trophies and titles. Some booths, such as Cowboys Barbeque & Ribs from Texas, advertised their wins with signs that towered high over the grounds.
Kevin Black of Black-Smith Barbeque Shack in Ohio said he was the underdog because his booth didn't have a lot of signs or trophies. This was Black's first time entering into the Ribfest competition.
"I'm used to competitions where it comes down to serving one single plate," Black said, catching a break from the heat of the grill. "With this, it's serving as many plates as possible."
Each person attending the festival was given a scorecard to vote for the booth with the best ribs. Tenderness of the rib, flavor of the sauce, and portion size was considered for judging.
As they tore apart a rib with some baked beans on the side, Jerry and Robin Matson of Charleston said they were on their first plate
"This was a decent first dish," Robin said, "but we are ready to move on to our next one."
This year's festival was divided into two sections. One side had the rib booths. The other featured a carnival and petting zoo.
Zoee Landis, 9, of St. Albans, said her favorite ride is the high-speed "tempest," with spinning chairs.
"I've rode it before, and I never get sick," said Landis, waiting in line with her grandmother, Cathy Karnes of Poca.
Ribfest ends today, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winner will be announced and the Rick Perdue Band is set to perform.
Tickets cost $4 for adults and $3.50 for children. Food, carnival rides and games are purchased separately.
Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5100.
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People licked their fingers clean and kept their foreheads dry Saturday as heat rose to 80 degrees during South Charleston's 12th-annual Ribfest.
Competitors began arriving Thursday from states including Ohio, South Carolina and Texas to have their barbeque sauces judged by hungry festivalgoers.
At the recently cleared site across MacCorkle Avenue from Dow Chemical, booths were set up for cooks that showed off their past trophies and titles. Some booths, such as Cowboys Barbeque & Ribs from Texas, advertised their wins with signs that towered high over the grounds.
Kevin Black of Black-Smith Barbeque Shack in Ohio said he was the underdog because his booth didn't have a lot of signs or trophies. This was Black's first time entering into the Ribfest competition.
"I'm used to competitions where it comes down to serving one single plate," Black said, catching a break from the heat of the grill. "With this, it's serving as many plates as possible."
Each person attending the festival was given a scorecard to vote for the booth with the best ribs. Tenderness of the rib, flavor of the sauce, and portion size was considered for judging.
As they tore apart a rib with some baked beans on the side, Jerry and Robin Matson of Charleston said they were on their first plate
"This was a decent first dish," Robin said, "but we are ready to move on to our next one."
This year's festival was divided into two sections. One side had the rib booths. The other featured a carnival and petting zoo.
Zoee Landis, 9, of St. Albans, said her favorite ride is the high-speed "tempest," with spinning chairs.
"I've rode it before, and I never get sick," said Landis, waiting in line with her grandmother, Cathy Karnes of Poca.
Ribfest ends today, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winner will be announced and the Rick Perdue Band is set to perform.
Tickets cost $4 for adults and $3.50 for children. Food, carnival rides and games are purchased separately.
Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5100.
