Discuss Alternative Plan for Ribfest 2026

Provide feedback about proposed plan.

As the Council is aware, construction is planned to take place at the Vetter Stone Amphitheater this summer, affecting RibFest. As was previously directed, staff have developed a plan for 2026 that would create a two-day festival on the Grand Lawn featuring music and BBQ.

• Use the Grand Lawn in front of the IGC, the entire block of Hickory Street, and potentially the parking lot between the IGC and US Bank near the Brett’s building. This footprint would be almost the exact same as it was from 1998-2009.
• Market the event as a return to our humble beginnings, reusing the original “Hickory Street RibFest” name, and bring back the classic original logo.
• Create an event that has minimal net cost, other than food/beverages, depending on the availability of local/regional talent.
• Focus on food with BBQ-based food trucks and vendors from around the state of Minnesota.  Staff have had well received conversations with multiple local food trucks when asking for feedback on the concept and confirming if there would be availability this late in their seasons schedule. 
• Engage local and regional bands, as it was in the beginning.

We are currently targeting Friday, August 7 through Saturday, August 8, moving to a two-day model. The event would open at 11:30 a.m. on Friday August 7 to capitalize on the downtown workday lunch crowd and continue until 10:00 p.m. Saturday would follow the same timeline.