By: Kim Wendel
Posted: 7/5/2010 2:42:43 PM
AKRON -- Officials say beautiful weather helped attract nearly 40,000 people to Downtown Akron over the 4th of July holiday weekend for the annual "Rib, White & Blue" Festival, which this year also featured fireworks inside Lock 3.
More than 8,000 people visited Lock 3 each day, Thursday through Saturday, and on Sunday night, the fireworks show attracted twice that number, pushing total attendance over the four day festival to 38,378.
This year, for the first time since 1975, the city cancelled its large fireworks display over the Akron Innerbelt for budget reasons.
Akron General stepped forward to fund the lower-cost smaller display that was a spectacular finale to the Akron Symphony Orchestra's pops concert on the Lock 3 stage.
The four-day event also featured master barbeque chefs from around the country.
The competition ended Sunday with judges selecting their top choices:
Best Ribs
* 1st place: Carolina Rib King of Moore, South Carolina, winner of a $1,000 cash prize
* 2nd place: Texas Pit BBQ of Willis Texas
* 3rd place: Guy's BBQ of Akron
Best Sauce
* 1st place: Big Boned BBQ of Hixson, Texas, winner of a $500 cash prize
* 2nd place: Texas Pit BBQ of Willis Texas
* 3rd place: Carolina Rib King of Moore, South Carolina
Other participants included Totally Cooked BBQ of Cuyahoga Falls; Smokin's Joe's Ribs and Smoke Shack BBQ, both from Columbus,Ohio; Old Carolina BBQ of Canton; and, 2 Fat Guys BBQ of Massillon.
Lock 3 is preparing for two more weekends of festivals.
The annual Italian-American Societies Festival begins at 11 a.m. Friday with more than 100 vendors featuring music, food, and cultural displays through Sunday night. Admission is free.
The fifth annual National Hamburger Festival is July 17-18 and admission is $5. Proceeds benefit Akron Children's Hospital.
© 2010 WKYC-TV
