If you love ribs or anything barbequed, then get ready because the 15^th Annual BBQ RibFest is returning to downtown Fort Wayne June 14-17. Located at Headwaters Park, some of the best, award-winning cooking teams are coming to cook up over twenty tons of BBQ. Along with delicious BBQ, blues bands will be performing on the Blackburn & Green and Coors Light stage under the canopy throughout the festival.

Some of the best BBQ cooking teams from around the nation will come and cook up some of the most arguably delicious BBQ to ever have been tasted. The BBQ sauces range from hot and spicy to sweet and tangy. Everyone is sure to find something that they love.

With RibFest ending on Father’s day, what would be a better gift than to take your father to RibFest and buy him some delicious BBQ ribs, brisket, pulled pork, or chicken?

RibFest begins June 14^th at 12 pm, just in time for lunch. RibFest is open from 12 pm – 11 pm on Thursday, 11:45 am – 12 am on Friday, 2-11:45 pm on Saturday, and 12-  10 pm on Sunday. Admission is free until 5:30 pm. After that it costs $8 for adults (13 and over), $6 for seniors and $4 for students, Military, Fire and Police with ID.

For more information, visit them online.

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It’s time to belly up to the table and put on your rib-eating face for the 15th Annual BBQ Ribfest in downtown Fort Wayne! This event is a local favorite, serving up a variety of mouth-watering BBQ with the taste of home-cookin’, June 14 through 17 at Headwaters Park.

Whether you enjoy spicy ribs or sweeter flavors — there are enough varieties to please any meat-lover’s palate. Vendors this year include Desperado’s, Carolina Rib King, Jack on the Bone, Cowboys BBQ and Rib Company, Big Boned BBQ, Timmy’s BBQ, Texas Pit BBQ and Shig’s In Pit. As usual, this year’s event includes a full line-up of live entertainment from rock to jazz and country music. Sit back and enjoy some live music, a cool beverage and your favorite ribs.

The kickoff party begins Thursday at noon. BBQ Ribfest runs through 10 p.m. on Sunday. Bring dad to the event on Sunday for a Father’s Day treat he won’t forget! Admission prices are $8 for adults ages 13 and older. However, if you arrive before 5:30 p.m. you can receive free admission. Seniors are admitted for $6 each and students (along with any military, police or fire personnel with ID) are admitted for $4 each.

More than 40,000 people attend this annual event which helps kick off the summer festival season in Fort Wayne. Outside of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, barbecue chicken and sides are also available for purchase. Don’t worry — here you are allowed to pig out. Find out more about the 2012 BBQ Ribfest online. Headwaters Park is located downtown at 333 S. Clinton Street.

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Germanfest kicks off Fort Wayne’s busy summer season with a number of events for all ages held June 3-10.

On Sunday, June 3 the opening concert, Heimatabend, begins at 4:30 p.m. at Park Edelweiss (3355 Elmhurst Dr., 747.2592). Following the concert, dinner will be served from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Traditional German fare will be served: rouladen, potatoes and gravy, vegetables and desserts, German style beverages and gemutlichkeit. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.

The next day the German Heritage Society will grill Brats on the patio at Club Soda from 5-10:00 p.m. for Kostritzer Night.

Hofbrau Night will be held at the Fort Wayne Sport Club (3102 Ardmore Ave.) on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. For information call 260.432.6011.

On Wednesday, June 6 teams of two players will race at various times for the Ferkel Wurst Stuffin’—this funny-sounding relay has contestants battle to see who can stuff the most ‘sausages’ full of plush piglets. Location: Main Stage at Headwaters Park.

The Legs ‘n Lederhosen contest on June 7 is one of the festival’s most popular events. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the Main stage at Headwaters Park judges will pick the best looking pair of legs. Men and women may participate. Free admission. Pre-registration required.

The Masskrugrennen (Stein Line Race) will take place on Friday, June 8 from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Main Festival Tent at Headwaters. Contestants form relay teams to run to the finish line, each with a full stein which is handed to other team members. Oh, and contestants must run with a balloon held between their knees!

Volksmarch (10k walk) on Saturday, June 9 begins at 8:00 a.m. at the festival tent, proceeding through Fort Wayne neighborhoods, downtown and River greenway. For more information call 260.925.5091.

The Germanfest Bake-Off on Saturday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. will be held in the culture tent. Contestants will bring their best German dessert and recipe to Culture Tent at Festival Plaza in Headwaters Park. A local judge will choose three entries as winners and award prizes to respective bakers. The Family Festival on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. includes a magician, fencing, knights and ladies, food, music, water fun, face painting, carriage rides.

Germanfest is sponsored by Fort Wayne Sport Club, German Heritage Society, Fort Wayne Turners, and Fort Wayne Mannerchor / Damenchor.

For more information contact the Germanfest Committee at www.germanfest.org.

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Fort Wayne offers a festival nearly every weekend in the months of June and July. Out of all of the summer events, my favorite is GermanFest. Why? That’s simple; it’s the festival that my husband and I enjoy together (and without kids).

The celebration begins at various city locations on June 2^nd and ends Saturday, June 9^th. On Wednesday, June 6^th, the majority of the events take place at Headwaters Park in the Festival Pavilion. The week is jammed-packed with events that are sure to please everyone.

My favorite activity is the Beer Stein Relay Race, it’s always fun to watch (maybe this year I will even talk myself into participating).

My other favorite part of GermanFest is inviting a group of friends to enjoy the food (the warm potato salad is amazing) and music (oh, and of course, the beer!)

If the festival closes for the night, but you are still yearning for more, be sure to check out the nightlife that Fort Wayne has to offer!

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Canal Days began in 1958 when a “Canal Boat” was brought to New Haven during the event. Throughout the years the festival has undergone many changes and adjustments, but has been held in the downtown area since 1987 and continues to draw crowds each year. The annual parade, and 5K race benefiting the New Haven High School Track program, are among the event highlights. Thoughout the event, enjoy traditional fair food, rides on the midway and an arts and crafts show.

Highlights from this year’s schedule of events include:

Friday, June 1
Car Show

Tuesday, June 5
Army Invades Schnelker Park

Wednesday, June 6
Karaoke Night
Teen Glow Dance

Thursday, June 7
Quilt Show
Movie Night

Friday, June 8
Senior Picnic

Saturday, June 9
Parade
Kids Day
Cornhole Tournament

The midway and vendors are open daily. Visit Canal Days online for a full schedule of events and times. Registration forms for the “Wellness 4 Everyone” 5K race, held Saturday, June 9, are available here. For more information on Canal Days visit the event website and join the Canal Days group on Facebook. New Haven is located just east of Fort Wayne, only a 12 minute drive from downtown.

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