"Best Of The West" Ribfest & Street Fair This Friday

Get your grub and good times on at the 19th Annual Best of the West Ribfest & Street Fair on Main Street, Watford City, ND, Friday, Aug. 11. 

Ribfest teams must be set up and ready to cook by 10 a.m .; judging will start at 3 p.m. There is no limit to the number of teams that can register, but there is a minimum of 200 lbs. of ribs that each team must cook, and teams must provide an emailed receipt for the purchase of the meat by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9. First place will be awarded $1,000 and bragging rights, of course. Second place will get $500 and third place will receive $250. Teams can set up the night before as well as the morning of the event.

The 12th Annual Classic Car & Truck Show, sponsored by Panther, is happening from noon-7 p.m. with judging beginning at 4 p.m. This is open to vehicles of all ages. Awards for both the Classic Car & Truck Show and Ribfest winners will be held at 5 p.m. 

The Bags & Bones Cornhole Tournament starts at 11 a.m. Teams will play for cash prizes sponsored by RTC Networks & Watford City Tourism; first place will win $1,000, $400 for second, and $100 for third place.

The Kids Zone, sponsored by Legendary Smiles, will be open from noon-8 p.m. with Jump & Fun Inflatable Games. This is free, however kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

There will be food vendors available throughout the day, as well as craft vendors for anyone who would like to do a little shopping.

North Dakota native and musician Josh Kehr will be getting the party started from 4-7 p.m. on the 3rd Ave. side stage, sponsored by Badlands Hydrovac Services LLC.

Ribs will be served to the public at 6 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. country music act Blackhawk will be opening for this year’s headliner, Hairball. Hairball’s ‘Bombastic Collaboration of Arena Rock’ will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. This year’s Premier Entertainment Sponsor is First International Bank & Trust and Oneok is sponsoring the big stage for this year’s Ribfest.

Jones Contractors VIP Pit Passes are available at http://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheWestribfest or on the Ticketleap website. They are $75 per pass and include pit access at the stage with seating under a canopy tent to keep VIPs cool and comfortable, access to an exclusive VIP bar, bathrooms and drink specials will be available. VIP passes do not include ribs. There are only 35 VIP passes left, so get them while you can!

To register as a team or vendor, a complete list of team rules, or for more information in general, visit http://www.watfordcityribfest.com. Additionally, you can check out the event at http://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheWestRibfest, contact the Watford City Chamber of Commerce at 701-570-5084 or email them at [email protected].

If this is your first year, or if this is a tried-and-true tradition, you won’t want to miss this awesome event which invites you to ‘Come for the Ribs, Stay for the Music!’