Barbecue, music, and miniature Indy-style cars will spice up downtown

8/3/2001

The 18th annual Northwest Ohio Rib-Off will offer more than barbecued ribs to tempt the senses. Several musical acts will perform during the food festival, which added a fourth day for this year.

Bands will play from noon to about 7:30 p.m. today in Promenade Park in downtown Toledo; noon to about 8:30 tomorrow, and noon to about 7:30 Sunday.

Today's bands are Ras Riddim, Razz, Rootcellar, Lloyd Wredd featuring Tone Dog, Madison Avenue, and Stacked Ham.

Tomorrow's players are Sugar Daddies, Groovemaster, Hepcat Revival, Skoobie Snax, 4 to Go, Hellies, and Josh Boyd. Grupo Azteca, Mojo Mike's Blues Band, the Dry Bones Revival, Bandera, Touched, and Mighty Meaty Swing Kings play on Sunday.

The Golden Rib and People's Choice awards will be presented on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. This year's event has 18 contestants, many from Northwest Ohio.

Proceeds from the Rib-Off benefit United Health Services, an umbrella agency for six health-related area agencies.

Activities for children include an obstacle course on Friday-Sunday, coloring, raffles, and face painting on Saturday and Sunday, and seeing animals up close with handlers from the Toledo Zoo on Saturday.

Folks planning to hit the Rib-Off or other downtown spots on Saturday might consider a side trip to the Junior Achievement Grand Prix Race.

The three-heat event begins at 10 a.m. at the starting line on 11th Street near Adams Street. Miniature Indy-style race cars sponsored by local business will reach top speeds of 35 miles per hour during the heats.

Companies must put together a driving team and pit crew for race day, and teams design unique paint and decal schemes for the cars.

This year, 48 teams will compete in the fund-raiser for Junior Achievement. Last year's winner was the White Family Collision Center.

Because of the race, the following streets will be closed between 9 a.m. Friday and 11 p.m. Sunday: Adams and Jackson streets between Michigan and 12th streets; 10th and 12th streets between Adams and Jackson streets, and 11th Street between Jackson and Madison Avenue.

Access to the parking lot at the main branch of the library will remain open for vehicles, according to the Toledo police department.

TARTA will provide free shuttle service between the Grand Prix and the Rib-Off.