Sat Nov 07 2009
By JARED ORZOLEK
NAPOLEON -- Plenty of saucy faces and fingers will be on hand Friday when the 2009 Napoleon/Henry County Chamber of Commerce Rib Fest takes place.
Slated for 5:30-10:30 p.m. in downtown Napoleon, the event will feature 8,500 pounds of ribs and pulled pork prepared by 13 charitable or volunteer-based vendors. The event will be held rain or shine.
"We promise you a great time and great food -- it's as easy as that," said Joel Miller, executive director of the chamber. "All of that comes in an atmosphere you can't find anywhere else -- historic downtown Napoleon. When the event is framed by the buildings and the courthouse, it just gives the fest a great feel. I think that's a big part of what makes the rib fest special."
This year marks the fifth time the fest has taken place. Each year, large crowds have gathered in Napoleon to enjoy the food and music.
"I don't think we knew how big this event could be. We knew it would be fun and we would work as hard as we could for the Henry County community, but I don't think we could foresee it being this successful," Miller said. "We are hoping all of our friends tell a few of their friends and we get all of northwest Ohio together for a great time, great food and great music."
The entertainment at this year's festival will be the Menus, who will perform on a stage set up on Perry Street.
"The Menus are a great party band. They play a wide variety of music and all of it is designed to get you moving and singing along and maybe even high-fiving your friends. They're fun people looking to get folks up and moving," Miller said.
Vendors cooking ribs include the Napoleon Fire Department, Ridgeville Township Fire Department, Napoleon Aquatic Club, Pleasant Township Fire Department, Henry County Arts Council, Henry County Red Cross, Filling Memorial Home of Mercy, Napoleon Moose Lodge, Napoleon Optimist Club, Florida/Flatrock Township Fire Department, Hamler Fire Department, First Call for Help and the Napoleon Eagles.
The Napoleon Lions Club will sell ice cream and St. Augustine Catholic Church will serve fries.
The charitable organizations are sponsored by various local businesses.
"All of the profits from the ribs and pulled pork stay with our vendors. This is a great win-win each year," Miller said. "People get to come out and have a great time and great food, the vendors work hard and then get to expand their efforts helping out their neighbors right here in Henry County. The event lives well beyond a Friday night in June. These vendor groups are using their funds to make a difference all year-round."
A committee of chamber volunteers has worked for months to prepare for the rib festival, according to Miller.
"It's unbelievable the amount of time and effort our committee and volunteers put into the rib fest," he said.
"There is a core group that has been there since the beginning that are really the life blood of the event, but there are so many others who really enjoy being a part of the rib fest. You couldn't do something like this without the help of many others. Their help makes this happen," Miller added.
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Crescent-News.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Defiance Publishing, LLC 1995-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expresse written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expresse written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications