This popular, Erie’s Wild Rib Cook Off & Music Festival is the premier “kick-off” event of Erie’s Summer Festival Season. Performance & Event Management, LLC gained ownership of the Erie Rib Fest in 2004. Since that time, this respected community festival has experienced consistent growth in attendance, now attracting over 50,000 visitors annually.
Each year on the Wednesday following Memorial Day, the landscape of both East and West Perry Square Park and its surrounding streets transform into a colorful, exciting, and fun-filled community festival. Professional National Award Winning Rib Cooking Teams (as seen on the Food Network) converge in downtown Erie, PA to provide the very finest in BBQ cuisine. To compliment the spectacular fall-off-the-bone BBQ, full-slab and half-slab rib dinners and pulled pork sandwiches, visitors can choose from a selection of delicious festival foods that will please every pallet. Event goers can also walk about the tree-shaded grounds and enjoy the one-of-a-kind, hand designed works from the artists and craftsmen, a variety of merchandise vendors, promotional and informational booths.
Local and Regional bands performing family-friendly entertainment are showcased on the main stage and liven up the crowds with a varied selection of popular entertainment.
OPEN FOR SPONSORSHIP – Brief Overview
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
SIGNATURE SPONSOR Become an affiliated sponsor the the popular “kick-off” event to Summer in Erie, PA.
PRODUCT PROMOTIONS This event attracts visitors representing all demographics with the strongest representation being women and men 25 to 45. Does your company provide a product or service that is a prefect fit?
VIP TENT CORPORATE SPONSOR Treat your employees or clients to a VIP PARTY in the big top tent at the Erie Rib Fest. Customized to your specifications.
ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR Four days of entertainment. Corporate Banners hung on the main stage during your day and placed prominently about the grounds the other three days of the event.
ROYALTY RECIPIENT SPONSOR Does your company support a local, regional or national charity. Utilize this event as a vehicle to gain recognition for your favorite charity. This event also offers booth space at highly reduced rates for non-profit groups.
RIB Kid’s FUN ZONE This is the fun-filled area hosting clean and safe inflatable amusements and hands-on activities for children of all ages.
RIDE-A-RIBBA-RAMMA PASS provides hours of fun-filled inflatable ride entertainment for one low price. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday RIDE-A-RIBBA-RAMMA will be available from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. On Saturday, RIDE-A-RIBBA-RAMMA is scheduled from 11:00AM to 9:00PM. Individual Ride tickets are also available. Sponsors can offer discounted or free passes. We will customize to meet your marketing needs.
MAKE N’ TAKE CRAFT PROJECTS Have your personnel on site to work closely with children in making crafts and forming fond memories.
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS Provide scheduled workshops where professionals teach a skill, teach about history, involve children in an exercise program, teach children how to save and how to serve , etc.
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT Provide scheduled entertainment with age appropriate specialty acts.
BIG Kid ZONE The mechanical bull is a popular attraction for both children and adults at the Rib Fest. Be associated with this challenging amusement. Sponsor the BIG Kid ZONE and/or provide prizes for scheduled contests.
RIB JUDGING The rib judging process takes place on Friday at 5:30pm. A panel of invited guest judges participate as esteemed Judges in the Rib Judging Contest. The national rib-cooking teams provide a mouth-watering sampling of their tender, tasty competition BBQ ribs that are judged in four categories: Taste, Texture, Sauce and Appearance. Each of the teams vie for the coveted “Best Ribs” and “Best Sauce” Awards for the opportunity to win the beautiful Erie Rib Fest sustainable wood laser engraved plaques.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE The People’s Choice Tent provides the opportunity to be present at the Rib Fest, to introduce new products, distribute marketing and promotional materials, the opportunity to capture marketing information and the potential to attract new customers. This is the location where event goers have the opportunity to complete a ballot to vote for their favorite Rib Cooking Team. Available one to four full days during the event.