Eastwood Rib Festival RIB STICKING FUN RETURNS

Staff report

NILES

After skipping a year, the Eastwood Rib Festival will return this weekend in the parking lot surrounding Eastwood Field.

The three-day festival, which is now being run by an outside event-management company, opens Friday. It will include eight rib cookers, both local and national: Old Carolina, Johnson’s, Texas Pit, Guy’s, Johnson’s, Uncle Nick’s, Smokin’ T’s, Porky Chicks and Hot Sauce Williams.

Admission is $5, but patrons get two-for-one admission with a nonperishable food item for area food banks.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Other than the ribs, a major attraction is always the live music, and the festival will include three national acts: Georgia Satellites, Starship with Mickey Thomas and Fran Cosmo, former lead singer of Boston.

There also will be a host of local and regional acts, as well as beer vendors.

The festival will include a children’s play area, including a bungee ride and climbing wall.

There also will be a large marketplace area, featuring dozens of vendors offering goods and services ranging from hot tubs to purses, home decor to gas grills, plus specialty foods, sunglasses and more.

Festgoers can cast their vote for the People’s Choice Rib Vendor Award and be eligible to win a $500 Eastwood Mall gift certificate. A panel also will judge the best sauce and ribs.

The first 200 people to enter each day will receive a free pig-nose mask.

The headliner Friday will be Georgia Satellites, a Southern rock band best known for its 1986 hit “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” The band will play from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will perform at the same time Saturday, and Fran Cosmo, former lead singer of Boston, will take the stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Cosmo’s act performs all of the hits made famous in the ’70s and ’80s by Boston.

There is no extra charge to see any of the bands, but a limited number of gold-circle seats are available for all three national acts. Prices are $10 for Georgia Satellites and Starship with Mickey Thomas, and $20 for Fran Cosmo. Call 800-747-5500 to order.

Musical Schedule

FRIDAY

Noon to 2 p.m.: Aimee Jane

2:30 to 5:30 p.m.: The Young Guns of Country, featuring Old Southern Moonshine Revival, Clare Dunn and Ross Copley

6 to 7:30 p.m.: Zach Paxson

8 to 9:30 p.m.: Georgia Satellites

SATURDAY

Noon to 1:30 p.m.: The Movement

2 to 3:30 p.m.: Angel Blue and the Prophets Band

4 to 5:30 p.m.: Leddfoot

6 to 7:30 p.m.: Haymaker

8 to 9:30 p.m.: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

SUNDAY

Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Zack Wiesinger

2 to 3:30 p.m.: Billy the Kid and the Regulators

4 to 5:30 p.m.: Wet Lemon

6 to 7:30 p.m.: Fran Cosmo