10th Annual Rock'N'Ribfest

The Nashua Rotary West is working hard to bring you its 10^th Annual Rock’n Ribfest, scheduled for June 15 to June 17, 2012 at the Anheuser-Busch facility in Merrimack, NH. Last year more than 25,000 people attended this family-oriented event and this year planners are expecting nearly 50,000 attendees.

Grilling & Foodie Competitions - The Rock’n Ribfest will feature nationally-renowned and local “ribbers” serving up barbequed ribs and other specialties. On the competitive docket for the three-day event is the Kansas City Barbeque Society Barbeque Contest, New England Barbeque Society Grilling Contest, and Whoopie Pie Eating Contest (Sunday, June 17). Judges will sample food from over 30 of the Northeast’s best grillers and will select the NH State Barbeque Champion. The winners will then qualify for the National Barbeque Championship in Bentonville, Ark. in the fall of 2012.

Rock’n Ribfest Teen Band Competition (Friday, June 15) – Have a band and want to play for thousands? Come out of the garage and test your band’s skills against other teen groups in the region. Teen Band competition forms are available online. Application deadline is May 11, 2012. Also taking Main Stage, New England Rock and Roll favorites, 1964 The Tribute, The Slakas, The Pop Farmers, The Psychedelic Relics and The Blues Brothers the Next Generation will take turns entertaining crowds on the Main Stage over the three day festival.

Ribfest 5-Miler sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital (Sunday, June 17) - Burn off some of those festival calories by attending the Ribfest 5 Miler on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. Race participants will receive free entry into Ribfest along with a complementary beer (must be 21 years or older). Kids can participate in the “Squeelz” Piglet Run (50, 150, and 300 feet) for children ages 11 and under. The first 750 race registrants will receive an official race tech shirt. Race details and entry forms can be downloaded here.

Good, Clean Family-Friendly Fun - In addition to musical performances, Rock’n Ribfest is a family friendly event offering a kids area, hot air balloon rides, Wildlife Encounters, a Family Stage with local youth performances, and a display of race cars and antique fire trucks on Sunday. The NH Fisher Cats Mascot Fungo and Max the Mascot for the Manchester Monarchs Hockey will make appearances during all three days of the event.

For our serving and active reserve military personnel, Sunday, June 17 will be a special Military Appreciation Day. Simply show a military ID and receive admission for you and up to four family members. The Military Appreciation Day is co-sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and Nashua Rotary West.

Leading the business community in sponsorship for the Rock’n Ribfest is AB/InBev. Other major sponsors include Merrimack County Savings Bank, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Eaton and Berube Insurance, Comcast, Bellwether, Hannaford, Infiniti of Nashua, Allen Mello Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, Modell’s, Slawsby Insurance a member of the Minuteman Group, FairPoint Communications, Sports Authority, AutoFair and Nashua Power Equipment.

All events are held rain or shine. Admission is $7 at the gate, purchased in advance online at ribfestnh.com, or via the Anheuser-Busch gift shop. Children age eight and under are free. Proceeds from the event will benefit more than 40 local, nonprofit organizations through Rotary Nashua West’s annual giving program:

For 10 years, Rotary Nashua West has been conducting the Rock’n Ribfest as a means to raise funds for charitable organizations all over. Here are a few of the organizations that have benefited from the event:

• Adult Learning Center
• American Red Cross
• Beaverbrook Association
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Boys & Girls Club
• Bridges
• Caregivers, Inc.
• Child Advocacy Center
• Child & Family Services
• City Arts Nashua
• Currier Museum of Art
• Gateways Community Svcs.
• Girls Inc of New Hampshire
• Girls Scouts of Gr & Wh Mtns.
• Gr. Nashua Dental Connection
• Gr. Nashua Interfaith Hosp. Network
• Gr. Nashua Mental Health Center
• Harbor Homes, Inc.
• Healthy at Home, Inc.
• Home Health & Hospice Care
• Humane Society
• Karen’s Climb Foundation
• Keystone Hall
• Lamprey Health Care
• Latino Community Center
• Marguerite’s Place
• MooreMart
• Nashua Center for the Multiple
• Nashua Chamber Orchestra
• Nashua Children’s Home
• Nashua Community College
• Nashua High School South
• Nashua High School North
• Nashua Pastoral Care Center
• Nashua Police Athletic League
• Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter
• Nashua Special Olympics
• Nashua Symphony Association
• New Hampshire Teen Institute
• Plus Company, Inc.
• RISE – Senior EOL
• St. Joseph Comm. Services
• Salvation Army
• Senior Activity Center
• Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force
• The Youth Council, Inc.
• YMCA of Greater Nashua

For more information, visit www.ribfestnh.com, Facebook, Twitter, or call the hotline at 603-589-2333.