Could a ribfest return to downtown Warren next spring or early summer?

The downtown development task force is looking into bringing a ribfest back to Warren for the first time in over a decade.

Members of the task force traveled north to go to the Celoron Ribfest near Jamestown to meet with organizers and then later attended the event to talk to various “ribbers” to find out if they might be interested in coming to an event in Warren.

“There are ribbers that are interested in coming into Warren,” said Randy Rossey, city codes and planning director. “This group will be working going forward to identify what ribbers would like to come into Warren and then look at some dates. It’s possible the dates could be late spring or early summer.”

Councilman Maurice Cashman suggested sending a group to Pittsburgh to attend its rib festival, which takes place the same weekend as a University of Pittsburgh football game.

“I’m encouraging two people to go down to the Pitt-Duquesne football game,” Cashman said, noting he’s already asked the two people and is waiting to hear if they want to attend. “I’m willing to give them two nice tickets and premier parking because Pittsburgh has a ribfest that weekend, right up against Accusure Stadium. They’ve been doing this for a number of years and maybe they can talk to some additional ribbers and watch a football game.”

While there hasn’t been a ribfest in Warren in years, a three-day Ribfest with live music and ribs was held in Youngsville at the end of May, sponsored by KAMS Logging Supplies and Outdoorwear. KAMS is looking to offer another Ribfest next year.

The annual Warren Ribfest, which brought nationwide talent to the community for a week, has been gone for a decade. The event had been held at Betts Park for several years before moving to the Warren County Fairgrounds. The event started out with a private organizer before it was taken on by the Warren Main Street group and then by the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry.