Bret Michaels Rocks Mankato’s Ribfest

Friday night my wife and I jumped in the car and cruised over to Mankato to enjoy an evening of music and BBQ at the 19th annual Ribfest. Downtown was hopping with people jockeying for someplace to park. We finally found a good place to park a couple of blocks away, grabbed our sweatshirts, since the evening was already starting to cool off, and headed for Vetter Stone Amphitheater, which is perched along the banks of the Minnesota River. Despite the crowds, we were quickly ushered through the gates and made our way toward the massive wall of BBQ stands that lined the ridge at the back of the concert grounds. There were quite a few award-winning joints to chose from, places including Aussom Aussie Barbeque, Chicago BBQ Company, Big Boned BBQ and Austin's Texas Lightning BBQ. We chose Porky Chicks BBQ. We enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and a brisket sandwich plus cole slaw and beans and grabbed a Culvers root beer float.

We finished eating and wandered around the grounds checking out the sights while we killed time waiting for Bret Michaels to hit the stage. Nine o'clock finally rolled around and the band took the stage in front of what was reportedly a record-setting audience. Believe me it was packed, but we finally found a good spot to take in the show. Bret and crew rocked the place running through Poison hits "Unskinny Bop," "Something to Believe In," "I Want Action," "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" and "Look What the Cat Dragged In" plus covers of Skynyrd, Kiss and Loggins and Messina tunes as well as others. Bret kept the party going as he worked the crowd with charismatic banter in between songs and fireworks lit up the sky throughout the show.

We had a fun night and definitely will be going back next year for their 20th year, which I imagine will be a huge blowout.