{"id":2440132,"date":"2026-06-01T12:59:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T12:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2440132"},"modified":"2026-06-01T12:59:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T12:59:59","slug":"happy-harrys-ribfest-brings-heat-to-summer-entertainment-lineup-inforum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/happy-harrys-ribfest-brings-heat-to-summer-entertainment-lineup-inforum\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Harry’s RibFest brings heat to summer entertainment lineup – InForum"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FARGO \u2014 The summer is about to get saucy.<\/p>\n

Happy Harry\u2019s RibFest will open on Wednesday, kicking off four days of barbecue, classic tunes and outdoor family fun at the Fargodome.<\/p>\n

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Ribs are grilled at Cowboys BBQ & Rib Co. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, during Happy Harry’s Ribfest at the Fargodome.<\/figcaption>

Contributed \/ Fargodome<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Promoters have taken to calling the annual event, \u201cthe kickoff to summer\u201d and this year\u2019s musical lineup is turning up the heat, said Fargodome Director of Marketing & Sales Sarah Dykema.<\/p>\n

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If you go<\/p>\n

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What:<\/b> Happy Harry\u2019s RibFest<\/p>\n

When:<\/b> Gates open at 11 a.m. Wednesday – Saturday<\/p>\n

Where:<\/b> Fargodome<\/p>\n

Info:<\/b> happyharrysribfest.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably our strongest four nights of entertainment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

While the acts were booked with help from Jade Presents, which <\/p>\n

announced last week that it was closing<\/a><\/p>\n

with most of its shows canceled, the RibFest dates remain on.<\/p>\n

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\n\"Spin<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Spin Doctors headline the first night of Happy Harry’s RibFest.<\/figcaption>

Contributed \/ Fargodome<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Things will get rocking Wednesday night when 1990s alternative rock band Spin Doctors brings its radio hits \u201cLittle Miss Can\u2019t Be Wrong\u201d and \u201cTwo Princes\u201d to the stage. Tripwire will open at 7:15 p.m. followed by Spin Doctors at 8:45.<\/p>\n

Thursday will be a night for the country fans with singer Chris Cagle revisiting his early 2000s hits like, \u201cI Breathe In, I Breathe Out,\u201d \u201cWhat a Beautiful Day,\u201d \u201cChicks Dig It\u201d and \u201cWhat Kinda Gone\u201d starting at 8:45 p.m. Slamabama will open at 7:15.<\/p>\n

Time will get turned way back to the 1970s on Friday as Foghat cranks out the classic rock with \u201cI Just Want to Make Love to You,\u201d \u201cFool for the City\u201d and \u201cSlow Ride.\u201d Booz n Tuna will open at 7:30 p.m., followed by Foghat at 9.<\/p>\n

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\n\"Lita<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Lita Ford closes out Happy Harry’s RibFest on Saturday. <\/figcaption>

Contributed \/ Fargodome<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

The volume will get turned up Saturday with a 1980\/90s hard rock double shot. Face for Radio will open at 5:15 p.m., followed at 6:45 by FireHouse\u2019s radio anthems \u201cDon\u2019t Treat Me Bad\u201d and \u201cAll She Wrote\u201d as well as power ballads \u201cLove of a Lifetime\u201d and \u201cWhen I Look Into Your Eyes.\u201d Former Runaways singer\/guitarist Lita Ford will blast out the group\u2019s signature \u201cCherry Bomb\u201d as well as her solo hits \u201cKiss Me Deadly\u201d and \u201cClose My Eyes Forever.\u201d She will take the stage at 8:45 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pure excitement. Everyone is pumped,\u201d Dykema said.<\/p>\n

She added that RibFest has built a strong following with middle-aged, blue collar fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve noticed that 35-plus is our main demographic. That\u2019s the crowd that shows up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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\n\"Kevin<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n

Kevin Howard, a cook for Johnson’s Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que from Norfolk, V.A., manages a variety of barbecue entrees while a line of customers place their orders on on Wednesday, June 8, during Happy Harry’s Ribfest 2016 outside the Fargodome. The festival kicked off at 11 a.m. and continues through Saturday until 11 p.m. Matt Hellman \/ The Forum<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Still, she stresses that RibFest is for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny age you are, you\u2019re going to hear songs people are familiar with,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Of course, music is only part of the draw. It wouldn\u2019t be RibFest without the barbecue.<\/p>\n

The lineup of six rib cookers is similar to last year, with one notable exception. Johnson\u2019s Bar-B-Que from Virginia is taking time off from traveling and competing following the death of founder Dan Johnson in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re sad they won\u2019t be here this year,\u201d Dykema said, adding that Johnson had been a RibFest regular for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n

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\n\"060425.N.FF.RibFest\"<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Patrons line up fpr food on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, during Happy Harry’s Ribfest at the Fargodome.<\/figcaption>

David Samson \/ The Forum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Carolina Catering will stock sweets like deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos as well as mini-donuts and cheese curds and Dykema hopes the vendor will offer corn on the cob again this year after not preparing it last year.<\/p>\n

Games to Go is back for the second year in a row, but will be looking to bring in more attractions. Kids 6 and older can bounce all day for a $15 wrist band and kids 5 and younger can explore a kiddie land for $10.<\/p>\n

There will also be a temporary sandbox for kids to play in during the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a parking lot, but we do our best to make it fun for the family,\u201d Dykema said.<\/p>\n

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\n\"A58I7891.jpg\"<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
A giant sandbox will be a family feature at RibFest.<\/figcaption>

Alyssa Goelzer\/The Forum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

The parking lot atmosphere will be better fitted for Saturday\u2019s Bison Tailgate. Coaches and student athletes from North Dakota State University as well as mascot Thundar will meet fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Area first responders will also bring in vehicles for the Touch-a-Truck event so people can check out emergency rides.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes for a really fun day for families,\u201d Dykema said.<\/p>\n

Parking and admission are free Wednesday through Friday and $5 each after 2 p.m. and all day Saturday. There is no additional fee for the nightly concerts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably the cheapest event around,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty great value.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n <\/p>\n\"John<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n

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\n For almost 30 years John Lamb has been covering arts and entertainment in the Red River Valley. He started writing for the High Plains Reader in 1997 and moved to The Forum in 2002. He is an Annenberg fellow, an occasional judge for talent shows and food contestants and co-hosts the weekly \u201cGardening Together: The Podcast<\/a>.\u201d He’s rubbed shoulders with Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, drank with National Book Award winner Colm McCann, had coffee with Grammy-winning classical musician Peter Schickele and interviewed countless other artists, actors, musicians, writers and assorted interesting people. Contact John at jlamb@forumcomm.com<\/a>.\n <\/div><\/div>\n