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 transforms 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 complement 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 palate. 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, livening up the crowds with a varied selection of popular music.
OPEN FOR SPONSORSHIP – Brief Overview
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
SIGNATURE SPONSOR Become an affiliated sponsor of the popular “kick-off” event to Summer in Erie, PA.
PRODUCT PROMOTIONS This event attracts visitors from all demographics, with the strongest representation among women and men aged 25 to 45. Does your company provide a product or service that is a perfect 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 were prominently displayed around the grounds on 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 featuring clean, 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 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. 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 5:30 pm. A panel of invited guest judges participates as esteemed Judges in the Rib Judging Contest. The national rib-cooking teams provide a mouthwatering sampling of their tender, tasty competition BBQ ribs, which 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, to capture marketing information, and to attract new customers. This is the location where event goers can complete a ballot to vote for their favorite Rib Cooking Team. Available one to four full days during the event.