Reno Rib Cook-Off is a crowded and tasty festival for BBQ lovers

If you love barbecued ribs like you love your momma, and if you like a little bit of music and a ton of crowd to go with it, the Reno Rib Cook is the place to go. If you abhor crowds and eating on your feet, skip it and cook at home or host a barbecue extravaganza with all your friends and share each others' special sauce or method of cooking up the porky bones. The Reno Rib Cook-Off is a great place to sample a number of ribs from many different barbecue specialists but its not an easy feat if you can’t stand for long periods of time or tolerate munching your meal elbow to elbow during the busier hours of the festival. Poor seating accommodations is the number one complaint among festival participants and its easy to see why when you watch someone get jostled and spill their cardboard container of ribs all over their shirt and the ground. 

If you plan on attending the tasty fair, you’ll want to fill your pocketbook first because, like any other fair, the cost of eating is moderately high and washing it down with some lemonade or a beer will take far more than some extra change. Another good tactic is to attend with a number of friends so that you can purchase half or full racks together and pass them around so that you don’t get stuck trying one or two rib vendors and not find a favorite before you’re full or broke. On a positive note, there are some mighty good sauces and tender, smoked and grilled meats to be found. Most of the expert cooking teams have been at their task for years and with good results. 

The music is a high positive with two primary band stages and a variety of genre’s being booked throughout the run of the fair. Once again, however, enjoying the atmosphere is not designed for relaxation or comfort because the shaded table seating at the Nugget stage is reserved for their hotel guests only and the stage at the other end of the fair allows for a small expanse of lawn offering some space to sit. The younger population doesn’t seem to mind so much and expect it as part of the scene. Free music makes for an easier acceptance of the conditions. The two bands featured in the photos here are Lovelight (right) and Armer and the Hot Dogs (left).

There are long rows of interesting merchandise laid out to satisfy shoppers and depending on the time you attend, these areas are also over-crowded and difficult to maneuver. This is a festival for the easy-going and party-minded folk who don’t mind the shuffle pace that can occur at numerous spots and times. The vendors carry a wide range of goods including but not limited to clothing, furniture, health aids, jewelry, dog outfits, sports memorabilia, wind-chimes, carvings, and stained glass. It’s a nice variety for those who like to look and shop. Some unique and well crafted items from over 200 booths can usually be found and can make for some good gift giving options.  The 2009 Reno Rib Cook was held Sept. 2nd through the 7th and is always scheduled to run through the Labor Day weekend.  All photos and content copyright by Susan Raines.