Plenty of Local Flavor at 10th Annual Ribfest

Back at Rock'n Ribfest for his eighth year, Troy Hamele, owner of T-Roy's Hickory Smoked Barbecue, said he's not messing with success.

On his menu is pork ribs, pulled pork, beans and cole slaw. He said he used to do chicken but finds that people are really there for the ribs and pulled pork

"After eight years, we try to stick to what works well. We cook the ribs low and slow until they fall off the bone," Hamele said.

Based out of Amherst, T-Roy's is the most local ribber at the festival, with others coming from Massachusetts, Ontario, and even Sydney, Australia – by way of Pennsylvania.

Hamele has taken home the people's choice award, voted by the festival-goers as making the best ribs, three of the seven years he's previously attended.

He said every year, he starts prepping for the event about a week in advance, ordering food and then crossing his fingers and hoping for good weather.

With this weekend's forecast, it seems unlikely any further finger crossing will be needed.

Ribfest kicked off Friday night at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery with a little bit of history being made.

Nashua resident Al St. Louis kicked off the event with the National Anthem. But it wasn't just any National Anthem, it was his 196th performance since July 8 of last year.

St. Louis is nearing the end of his quest to set a world record for the most times performing the National Anthem in a year. Following his performance, St. Louis said since there was no previous record set, he initially set a goal of 100 performances in 365 days. When he shattered that, he set a goal for 200.

St. Louis will give his 200th performance on Tuesday, June 19, when he sings in Lynn, Mass., at a North Shore Navigators game.

By the time July 7 rolls around, St. Louis will be performing his final National Anthem in this quest at a Silver Knights game at Holman Stadium. He expects to finish with 216-220 performances.

St. Louis has been singing the National Anthem as a soloist for 20 years and he also performs with a barbershop quartet with the Granite Statesmen.

St. Louis will perform again Saturday and Sunday at Ribfest at noon.

As Friday night rolled on, the crowd grew steadily larger. As people browsed the rib vendors, Emily Gaukstern, 16, of Amherst, offered bibs emblazoned with Gator BBQ's logo.

Gaukstern has been working with Gator, out of Port Dover, Ontario, a few years ago after her dad, a Rotarian got her involved. Gaukstern said Ribfest is a really fun way to kick off her summer. It always falls the weekend after school gets out and despite working for three days, it's a great way to spend a weekend.

"I've made a lot of good friend with them. Gator is the best here," Gaukstern said.

Looking to enjoy the weekend for the first time and bring something new to Ribfest, Jim Flowers, owner of Out of the Woods Cafe, has 30 flavors of hot and iced coffee to serve through the weekend. Flowers has his own line of coffee called Cindia Jackson's and in addition to serving coffee, he is also roasting it at Ribfest and selling it by the pound.

On Sunday Ribfest runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A five-mile road race will begin on the brewery grounds at 9:15 a.m.

Admission is $7 at the gate. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery is at 221 Daniel Webster Highway.