Rock ‘N’ Ribs benefit returns to fairgrounds

Published 11:13 pm Tuesday, April 18, 2017

The sixth annual Rock ‘n’ Ribs to benefit the Blackbelt Benefit Group’s Grow Selma garden will be held April 29 at Lions Fair Park at 1 p.m.

Carl Bowline, a member of the Blackbelt Benefit Group, said there are still spots open for teams to sign up.

Bowline said he always enjoys the rib off and the family atmosphere of the event.

Email newsletter signup

“It’s great fun for families to get together, friends to get together and citizens to get together and just enjoy good food and a quality atmosphere with the people that are around you and good music later on in the evening,” Bowline said. “One of the years I think was wonderful was when it rained all the way up to the event and we were concerned about how wet it was going to be, and that’s when you saw all of the kids playing in the mud puddles. You don’t need much for kids to have a good time.”

The money raised from the event will go toward helping the Grow Selma garden, specifically clearing out trees that divide the land.

“This money is going toward the Grow Selma project,” Bowline said. “We’ve got a proposal to clean out the trees in the center.”

So far, 11 teams have signed up, but Blackbelt president Clay Carmichael said they are hoping for more.

“We would like to have as many as 18 teams,” Carmichael said.

The cost to register each team is $100, and includes the ribs, T-shirts and VIP passes for the bands.

Each team will be up to win a people’s choice award, best wings and best ribs, which will be judged on presentation, texture, flavor and creativity. For all of the rules, visit “Rock ‘n’ Ribs Benefit – 6th annual” on Facebook.

Col. Bruce Hampton and the Madrid Express will be playing at the event, as well as several other bands.

Tickets are $20 and children 12 and under are free. There will also be several activities for kids like a climbing wall, face painting and a bouncy house.

The last day for teams to register is Friday, April 21.