Expanded Rib Fest gets underway at Acrisure Stadium

The Backyard Brawl isn’t the only thing that’s kicking off on the North Shore Thursday.

While the college football season opener between Pitt and West Virginia will be a large part of the focus of events at Acrisure Stadium, the Kickoff and Rib Festival will have a formidable footprint as well. For five days, what’s being billed as “the best ribs in the country” will be grilling in an area that “encompasses over half of Acrisure Stadium,” organizers said.

The “midway” set up along Art Rooney Avenue will be filled with rib vendors, festival foods including funnel cakes, lemonade and a variety of beverages. Daily activities include games, rides and lots of live music.

Friday will feature The Clarks with special guests The Borstal Boys in a free concert getting underway at 7:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium Gate A. Saturday, The Shins with special guest Joseph hit the stage at 6:30 p.m. at Stage AE indoors. Sunday will feature a Battlegories DJ showcase from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday is billed as a BBQ & Blues Monday with a free concert starring the Jimmy Adler Band at Acrisure Stadium Gate A at 2:30 p.m. followed by Dan Bubien & the Delta Struts at 4 p.m. and Billy Price at 5:30 p.m.

Among new things this year is a Farm to Table Farmers market featuring local homegrown products for purchase from area farmers, Veterans Place Cornhole Tournament billed as the area’s largest, Art Rooney Avenue Street parties with DJ Steve Maffei Jr. and the Zodiac Motorcycle Club Bike Ride to benefit Veterans Place.

The schedule for daily activities will run from noon to 11 p.m. except for Monday when the schedule is noon to 9 p.m.