Jul 12, 2002 5 min read

GREENSBURG – Award-winning national rib and wing vendors will converge on the Westmoreland Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday, July 19-21, for the Coors Light Pennsylvania Rib, Wing, & Music Festival. The event will also feature a wide variety of music, including the southern rock of Molly Hatchet, Pittsburgh’s own Donnie Iris and Johnny Angel and the Halos.

More than 50,000 visitors are expected to sample the ribs and wings of some of the country’s premier rib and wing vendors, including Aussom Aussies from Sidney, Australia; Texas Pit Barbecue from Tomball, Texas; Big Fat Daddy’s from Baltimore, Md.; Fatdaddy’s House of Bones from Mansfield, Ohio; and local favorites, Quaker Steak & Lube from Sharon and Texas Roadhouse from Greensburg.

Dave and Debbie Stoner, owners of Family Festivals Association of Irwin, the company the organizes the event, said an estimated 25,000 pounds of ribs and wings will be served, lathered with 1,000 pounds of barbecue sauce, making this one of the biggest cookoffs in Western Pennsylvania.

“Each rib and wing vendor brings their unique secret recipe of barbecue sauce and cooking techniques to the festival, making for one competitive weekend,” Dave Stoner said.

Stoner said the 12 national rib and wing vendors, who will be featured at the who will be at the event, have won hundreds of awards at numerous rib and wing cookoffs all over the world. And together, they will compete in some 200 events this year.

Aussom Aussie’s from Sidney Australia has been competing in barbecue cookoffs throughout the U.S. and Canada since 1988. They have claimed more than 60 world and U.S. national titles.

Texas Pit Barbecue from Tomball, Texas, entered the rib circuit in 1992. In Texas, good barbecue is smoked in a pit, and that’s how Texas Pit Barbecue got its name. During their first year on the rib circuit, they took second-place ribs at the Great Lakes Rib Cookoff and have won numerous awards in their 10 years of business. They use a wood-fueled smoker and have one of the largest and most elaborate booth displays on the circuit. It consists of a 30-foot-banner system on PVC pipe that lists many of the awards they have won along with their menu.

On July 19-21, the public will decide who’s got the best ribs and wings as they complete ballots and vote for their favorite rib and wing vendor. A total of $1,200 in cash awards will be given for best ribs and wings.

Three full days of entertainment includes 20 bands and 21 hours of live music. The event will feature the southern rock of Molly Hatchet, “Flirtin With Disaster” on Friday, July 19 (WDVE Rock & Roll Day); Pittsburgh’s own Donnie Iris “Love is Like a Rock” on Saturday, July 20, (WDVE Rock & Roll Day); and The Vogues and Johnny Angel and the Halos on Sunday, July 21, (3-W-S Oldies Day). The entertainment takes place on an 18-foot-by- 40 stage in the heart of the rib/wing vendors so everyone can enjoy the music even as they stand in line to order their ribs and wings.

The festival also features other activities. A motorcycle show will take place on Saturday and features some of the area’s best makes and models of street and custom motorcycles. Hundreds of bikes are expected with participants from various HOG Chapters, Honda Gold Wing Chapters and more. Street and custom motorcycles are welcome and are admitted free to the festival Saturday. Key chains will be given to the first 100 motorcycles.

On Sunday, cars and trucks roll into the fairgrounds featuring some of the area’s best custom, classic and antique cars and trucks. Members from car clubs such as the Pharaohs, Road Kings, Rod Fathers, Rollin Oldies, Classic Cruisers, Steel Town Corvettes, Pittsburgh Mustang Club, Sultan’s, E.C Cruisers, Washington Cruisers and others, will display their cars/trucks on a huge blacktop and lighted lot inside the festival. Anyone with a custom, classic or antique car is admitted free on Sunday with up to two persons per car. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 100 cars.

More than 60 high-quality artists and craftsmen will be on hand displaying and selling their work, including sterling silver jewelry; leather; decorative and functional wood; tole and decorative painting; applique clothing; floral baskets; dips; pickles; stained glass; weather vanes; hats; ties; candles and much more. The craft displays will be located in three huge buildings and outdoors.

Other activities include barnyard petting zoo, 60-foot kiddie train rides, 14-foot-high moon walk, 24-foot climbing wall, 20-foot giant inflatable slide, fireball designs, henna tattoo artist & airbrush body art. Clowns Glitter-Dot and Dapper will do face painting and balloon animals. The event will also feature American Thunder 30-foot micro-reality NASCAR stock car race track, 30-foot wood ball shooting range, spin art for the kids, games and amusements and a huge reptile display with albino Cobras, King Cobras, Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Pythons, Giant Monitor Lizards and more.

The festival will also feature various food and beverages.

Free on-site parking is provided, and no shuttling is required. A special reserved wheelchair and disability-parking area has been established next to the main gate. Restroom facilities and all exhibit buildings are also wheelchair friendly. Wheelchairs are not available to rent at the festival, and visitors should bring their own wheelchairs.

Admission is only $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 6 to 12 and free to children under 6. The entertainment is included in the admission price.

Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Church, civic organizations, corporations and other groups should call the festival office for group discounts. There is a special reserved bus/motor coach parking area. Motor coach groups of 20 or more should call in advance to reserve their tickets and parking space.

For more information, call 724-863-4577.