Jazz & Rib Fest

The 32nd annual Jazz & Rib Fest took place this past weekend in the Arena District. Presented by Columbus Recreation & Parks, it featured 44 bands on three stages and 23 rib burners from across the country. There were grilling demonstrations, product samplings, and heaps of killer jazz from local and national acts. There was even a cornhole tournament sanctioned by the American Cornhole Organization, if you’re into that sort of thing. One of my favorite parts of this event is watching people kayak in the Scioto River, which breathes an entirely new energy into our skyline. I’d like to try it someday, if I can convince myself that I won’t wind up flailing in the water (or that it won’t matter when I wind up flailing in the water). The Jazz & Rib Fest is known for serving menu items that, how should I put this, aren’t conceived of anything related to bodily health. I’ve attended this festival for more than 20 years without consuming nary one rib, but I have devoured the daylights out of the music.