INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Downtown will be sizzling this weekend as the first ever All-American Ribfest takes place at the American Legion Mall. It began Thursday afternoon and runs through Sunday evening.The festival features ribs, pulled pork and all the sides from six award-winning barbeque places from across the country. There's also live music, including the popular Indiana band, The Wright Brothers Band.
The Indiana Sheriff's Youth Ranch is the sponsor of Ribfest. Former Marion County Sheriff John Layton is one of the organizers. He said the group is raising money for a 62-acre property they bought near Terre Haute, with the goal of using it as a camp site or retreat for at-risk kids.
- RELATED: More Ribfest information
"We'd like to get with these kids and kind of turn them in a different direction, before they pick up a gun before they do something stupid with dope and get them away from that crowd and get them into a better environment," Layton said.
The site will also house a canine academy and provide leadership training for teens considering careers in law enforcement.
Layton said they need roughly a million dollars to design and build some of the structures planned at the site. He said the goal was to offer camps and other activities all summer long and during fall and spring breaks.
Admission to Ribfest is $5 per person. Gates open 11 a.m. through Sunday.
Lunchtime Music Entertainment
- Thursday: Michael Beck Duo
- Friday: Tim Brickley Duo
- Saturday: Levi Riggs
- Sunday: Levi Riggs
Evening Headliner Bands
- Thursday: Epic Eagles
- Friday: Flying Toasters
- Saturday: Wright Brothers
- Sunday: When Country Went Pop