Blues and ribs come to Canal Winchester this weekend

If the Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest wasn't enough smokin' meat and lively music for you, luck is on your side as the Canal Winchester Blues & Rib Fest is Friday and Saturday.

A free yearly event that came to Canal Winchester from Pickerington in 2010, the Blues & Rib Fest combines tunes and grub, giving those who attend the glorious opportunity to sing, dance and listen as they fill their bellies with meat from five different rib vendors and whatever else they so desire.

Taking place at the intersection of High and Waterloo streets from 5-11 p.m. on Friday and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, the festival features 18 musical performances and dozens of food vendors, promising a juicy time for the whole family.

It's not just Canal Winchester residents who can enjoy such fun, but people from all around the country. In fact, many have made this central Ohio classic a staple of their summer for years. Karen Stiles, executive director of Destination Canal Winchester, said she hears about it every year.

"'We came here from Texas.' 'We came here from New York.' 'Every year, we plan our vacation around your festival. And we're from Virginia.' 'We're from Maryland,' 'We're from Florida,'" Stiles said, reliving some of the things she's heard from festival attendees over the years. "I love it. It's exciting that people build their vacation around our day-and-a-half event."

This is unsurprising when looking at the numbers, though, as according to Stiles, the official estimate for Blues & Rib Fest's attendance is approximately 33,000 per year.

"It's so exciting Friday night when the festival is going strong to step out and look and go, 'Wow, this is just amazing,'" Stiles said.

Another notable feature is the kids' zone, which has inflatables open until dusk, face painting and balloon artists, all of which are free of charge, as well as paid pony rides.

Right beside the kids' zone is the beer garden. While the bar is restricted to those 21 and older, the beer-garden space is open to all, so people can enjoy the air conditioning.

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"We encourage families to come in and sit down and enjoy the food that they've gotten there. It's a great place for moms and dads to sit and eat while they watch the little ones run around and play on the inflatables," Stiles said.

The main stage headliners are Nikki Hill featuring Laura Chavez from 9:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, and Jimmy Rogers from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about the Blues & Rib Fest, visit bluesandribfest.com.

Nfishman@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blues and ribs come to Canal Winchester this weekend