(Sioux Falls, SD)— Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rick Springfield, Loverboy, Foghat, Dee Snider and April Wine are among the big name acts that will be featured at the 17th Annual RibFest, presented by Dollar Loan Center, May 29-June 1 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls.
Proceeds from this year’s RibFest will benefit the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy, a program of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire.
“Having a new partnership with Chuck Brennan and the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy is giving RibFest a new identity,” says Terry Torkildson, General Manager of SMG Sioux Falls, which manages the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center, and Orpheum Theater Center. “Chuck (Brennan) knows more rock stars than anyone I have ever met and he has a knack for getting them to Sioux Falls. This takes RibFest to a new level while raising money for a great Charity.”
“Sioux Falls—this is going to be four days you will never forget,” says Brennan, CEO of Dollar Loan Center which is also this year’s title sponsor. “Bring your appetite for great ribs and enjoy some of the most incredible concert acts ever. We have some major surprises set for every night of the festival, it will be HUGE!”
Local favorite, Last Stop CD Shop, is one of many new sponsors to RibFest sponsoring the Gold Circle area.
RibFest still features eight award-winning barbeque vendors from across the country vying for the coveted People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards, as well as the popular “KidzFest at RibFest,” sponsored by Sanford Health, featuring free admission all day Sunday, June 1 with giant inflatables, activities for kids, and—new this year—performances by Brennan Rock & Roll Academy students.
“What the club kids are most excited about is that Mr. Brennan has arranged for all of these bands to also spend time at the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy to interact with them and their volunteer instructors,” added Karen Fogas, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire. “They are already practicing some Skynyrd!”
This year’s event kicks off with “Canadian Invasion Night” on Thursday, May 29. Loverboy, April Wine, Helix and Honeymoon Suite, all major Canadian bands, will be featured on the main concert stage.
Friday night will be “Ladies Night” featuring Rick Springfield, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt and Tom Keifer of Cinderella.
Saturday promises to be the biggest night in RibFest history, with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foghat and Head East.
RibFest will be open to the public free of charge on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Military members, veterans and their families receive free admission throughout the entire event.
RibFest runs May 29-June 1 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Hours are 4 p.m.- 11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 Thursday, $15 Friday, and $20 Saturday. Tickets go on sale March 7 at 10 a.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena box office, www.ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000 and all Ticketmaster outlets. $30 four days passes will be available along with VIP tickets also.
For more information, visit www.sfarena.com/ribfest.
About Dollar Loan Center
Dollar Loan Center operates nearly 100 stores in Nevada, California, Utah and South Dakota. For the past two years, the company was named a “Best Place To Work” in Southern Nevada by Vegas Inc magazine. For more information, call 866-550-4352 or visit www.dontbebroke.com.
About Brennan Rock & Roll Academy
The Brennan Rock & Roll Academy was founded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by Chuck Brennan, a philanthropist and business owner. The academy gives the children of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Sioux Falls the opportunity to grow by offering free music lessons to those that may otherwise not be able to get them. For more information on the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy, visit www.brennanrockandrollacademy.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire
By offering services through its multi-branded programming, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire is the area’s only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to serving youth from four weeks to age 18.
About SMG
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 14.4 million square feet of exhibition space and over 1.75 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s Reliant Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions, catering and special events division, SAVOR, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com