Fun heats up at Renzie Rib Fest

Festival regulars have returned this year with their special recipes.

Roberta Williams, owner of Robbie’s Ribs, discusses the attributes of tasty ribs Friday night at the Renzie Rib Fest. Michael Richter / Mon Valley Independent

Renzie Rib Fest, an annual Labor Day Weekend tradition in McKeesport, returned to Renziehausen Park Friday with some familiar faces on a rainy and humid night.

This year’s festival features five returning food vendors: Big Girls BBQ, Red Barn BBQ, Robbie’s Ribs, Rogue BBQ and TKO Gyros, Fries & More.

Beatlemania Magic, which has performed at Renzie Park various times over the last two decades, kicked off the weekend’s musical performances. The tribute band started its set with the 1963 tune “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

A thunderstorm passed through about a half hour prior to the band’s scheduled start time. Hundreds of people remained under umbrellas as they waited for Beatlemania Magic to take stage at the Lions Bandshell.

Once the rain cleared, festival goers flocked to the barbecue joints and concession stands in the field adjacent to the Lions Bandshell.

Dave Coleman, owner of Big Girls BBQ for more than two decades, said his homemade dry rub separates his ribs from the rest. He also smokes the slabs slowly over wood.

But he wouldn’t divulge any details about his BBQ sauces.

“I make them all homemade, so I just like to keep that secret to myself,” Coleman said.

Big Girls BBQ, based in Elrama, has been a vendor at Renzie Rib Fest for quite a few years. Coleman prefers the event’s proximity to home over Pittsburgh.

“We enjoy (Renzie Rib Fest) and it’s close to home,” he said. “If I go down to Pittsburgh, it’ll cost me over $10,000. That price is crazy down there, which I could compete with them.”

Roberta Williams, owner of Robbie’s Ribs, said the key to delicious ribs is removing the skin on the back and attentiveness.

“If you don’t do that, you don’t have any nice, tender ribs,” Williams said.

She also cooks her ribs on a charcoal grill.

Williams, a McKeesport resident, keeps coming back to the rib fest for its convenience.

“They have accommodations and give you shelter,” she said.

Corey Rossey, a cook who was helping out Friday at Rogue BBQ, previously worked for the restaurant for nearly eight years.

While preparing an order of ribs, Rossey mentioned that Rogue’s ribs took years of experimenting to perfect them.

“It was just trial and error, back and forth in the smoker,” Rossey said.

Peter Williams, who helps cook and fulfill orders at Rogue, described the joint’s sauce as savory with a bit of a tomato flavor.

“If you like smoke and vinegar, it’s perfect. Our sauce is amazing,” Williams said.

Rogue recently opened a new location in Homestead on Amity Street.

The Renzie Rib Fest continues today through Monday from noon to 9 p.m. each day. Admission is free.