St. Pete Ribfest 2015: What You Need to Know

Barbecue lovers who are ready to pig out are invited to St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park this weekend for three days of food and live entertainment.

Ribfest 2015 gets under way at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13 at the 701 Bayshore Drive N.E. park. Gates open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, as well.

Here are a few things attendees might want to know about before they go:

Entry Gates and Parking

• There are two main gates into the park – one on 5th Avenue Northeast and one at 7th Avenue Northeast
• Ribfest goers will find motorcycle parking is available on North Shore Drive and 9th Avenue Northeast
• Thirty handicapped parking spaces are also being made available by the baseball field in Northshore Park

Visitors are welcome to look for street parking or may park in any of the city’s three designated downtown parking garages (fees apply). Those who use the garages may take the free shuttle bus to the festival or ride the Looper Trolley. The garages are located at:

• The Mahaffey Theater, east side of 1st Street between 4th and 5th Avenues South. A $10 fee applies.
• Al Lang Field parking on the east side of 1st Street, just south of 1st Avenue South. A $10 fee applies.
• Sundial Garage on the east side of 1st Street between 1st Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North. A $10 fee applies.

Ticket Prices

At the gate, adults will pay $20 for Friday admission and $25 for Saturday and Sunday admission. Children under 12 are free with adult admission. Advanced tickets are available online at www.ribfest.org. Keep in mind that re-entry into the park is not allowed. Guests who leave will have to pay to get back in.

Family Entertainment

Ribfest features a number of activities for kids from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Family Fun Zone is hosted by the Great Explorations Children’s Museum and includes interactive games, arts and crafts, giant inflatables, balloon fun and a build and grow workshop presented by Lowe’s.

Musical Lineup

Ribfest isn’t Ribfest without some rock ‘n’ roll. With that in mind, musical acts will take to two stages in the park. Here’s the lineup for each:

Fran Haasch Law Group Main Stage

Friday

• Blended Brew, 5 p.m.
• The Georgia Satellites, 6:30 p.m.
• Bret Michaels, 8:30

Saturday

• Robby Steinhardt & the music of Kansas, 12:15 p.m.
• 38 Special, 2 p.m.
• China Grove, 4 p.m.
• Supernatural, 5 p.m.
• America, 6:30 p.m.
• Three Dog Night, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday

• The Cadillac Three, 2:30 p.m.
• Michael Ray, 3:30 p.m.
• Chase Rice, 4:30 p.m.
• Kip Moore, 6:30 p.m.

Guardian Trust Stage

Friday

• The World Has Turned, 1 p.m.
• Trop Rock Junkies, 2:45 p.m.
• Ari & the Alibis, 6 p.m.
• Dropin Pickup, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday

• Southern Train, 1:15 p.m.
• Trouble No More, 3:15 p.m.
• Relentless, 5:45 p.m.
• Solar Exposure, 8 p.m.

Sunday

• Talk to Mark, 1 p.m.
• Drive, 3 p.m.
• Horses Wild, 4 p.m.
• Gamble Creek, 5:45 p.m.

For more information, visit Ribfest online.

Photo courtesy of Ribfest