19th annual Rockin’ Rib Fest features award-winning BBQ, dozen bands, carnival
Rockin’ Rib Fest, the signature fundraising event for the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club, returns from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, with a dozen bands, a full-size carnival, and business expo, as well as a variety of award-winning barbecue and rib vendors. All proceeds go to support the LITH Rotary Charities and all of its charitable projects both locally and internationally.
Hours for the 19th annual event are 4:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road in Lake in the Hills.
Admission is $5; children, age 12 or under, are free when accompanied by an adult. All active military are admitted free with a military ID verifying active status. Backpacks will not be permitted into the event. Only clear bags will be allowed. All bags are subject to a search.
Music stage
The festival stage opens at 6:45 p.m. Thursday with Alt 101, a 1990s alternative rock tribute band, then experience a 1970s Led Zeppelin show utilizing authentic vintage stage gear, costumes, and special effects with Kashmir at 9 p.m.
On Friday, Starlight City will mix pop, dance and rock music at 6:45 p.m., followed by Too Hype Crew performing the hip-hop and party anthems of the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s, at 9 p.m.
Once again, the music stage opens early at noon Saturday with Everett Dean and the Lonesome Hearts, performing early rock ‘n roll from the 1950s and ’60s.
One of the Boyzz, a six-piece “Rock N' Soul” band, will perform at 2 p.m. At 4:15 p.m., HiFi Superstar will bring their medleys which includes your favorite dance & party rock songs, spanning from the 1970s through today. The classic rock band Anthem will perform at 6:30 p.m. Bruce in the USA, a Bruce Springsteen tribute band, will take the stage at 9 p.m.
On Sunday, Head Honchos, the American blues, rock, soul, and funk band, will open the final day of music at noon, followed by iPop at 2 p.m. and Disco Circus at 4:30 p.m.
Rib vendors
There will be rib vendors from around the country, including Pigfoot BBQ Co. from Mentor, Ohio; Texas Outlaw BBQ from Elizabethtown, Kentucky; Cowboy BBQ & Rib Co. from Fort Worth, Texas; After Hours BBQ from Orville, Ohio; Texas Lightning Band from Austin, Texas; and Mojo's Rib Shack from New Franklin, Ohio.
Other food vendors include: Barones, By the Dozen Bakery, Bubble Gum Concessions, Dr. Vegetable, Dairy Queen, El Chido Street Tacos, Happy Dawg, Happy's Badazz Barvarian, and Smash'd Burgers.
Vendor Blender
While enjoying the music and food, you can check out all types of handcrafted goods and local services at the Vendor Blender. There will be raffles, swag bags, and goodies galore as you wander the park to shop and mingle. Vendor Blender hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
For schedule of the festival events, go to rockinrotaryribfest.com.