Fifth annual weekend event features award-winning barbecue classics, beer garden, live entertainment, and family-friendly events
Mesquite Gaming, owner of the CasaBlanca Resort and Virgin River Hotel, is excited to announce the 5th Annual 2022 Rib Fest is back! The 3-day family fun event will run from Friday, Sept 09th through Sunday, Sept 11th. This year’s Rib Fest will feature some of the country’s best barbecue vendors in a top-notch cooking competition serving up delicious ribs and meats. In addition, attendees will enjoy fun tailgating games, daily eating contests, and a live DJ keeping the energy high through the weekend. The CasaBlanca Rib Fest is free and open to the public.
As an added attraction this year, CasaBlanca Resort presents exciting live musical entertainment both Friday and Saturday nights. Popular country music artists Due West will perform on Friday night starting at 8:30pm. Tickets are $15 if purchased before Sept. 9th or $20 at the door. Saturday night, American rock n roll band Alter Ego performs all big hits starting at 8:30pm. Tickets are $15 if purchased before Sept. 10th or $20 at the door
“All of our national BBQ all-stars are back this year to vie for the prestigious Rib Fest cooking awards,” said Christian Adderson, assistant general manager at Mesquite Gaming. “Our guests look forward every year to coming out for this weekend of fantastic food, family fun, and entertainment. Having our special musical performers on Friday and Saturday nights will raise this event to its highest level of excitement yet.”
Notable food vendors include Austin’s Texas Lightning, who has more than 30 years of experience serving award winning barbecue, Chicago BBQ Company, who won first place at 2017’s Best in the West Rib Festival, and Texas Outlaw BBQ, who boasts more than 250 first place awards in its 25 years. This year, attendees will get to choose which barbecue they love the most and vote for the People’s Choice. Participants can vote once per day on casablancaresort.com and the team with the most votes by Sunday evening will win $2000.
2022 Schedule of activities:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 09
CasaBlanca Events Center 1 – 7 p.m.
Beginning at 1 p.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and live music with DJ Lex. The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.
- 4:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: KWNR The Bull 95.5 vs. KONY 99.9 Utah Radio
- 5:00 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
- 5:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11-year-olds
- 7:00 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds
- 7:30 p.m. Due West performance. Doors open at 7:30 pm, showtime 8:30pm.
Tickets $15 Adv GV, Day of $20.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
CasaBlanca Events Center 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Beginning at 11 a.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and music with DJ Lex. The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.
- 12:00 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest: Virgin Valley High School Principal vs. Hughes Middle School Principal
- 2:00 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: Mesquite Police Department vs. Mesquite Fire Department
- 3:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
- 4:00 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11 year-olds
- 5:00 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds
- 7:30 p.m. Alter Ego performance. Doors open at 7:30 pm, showtime 8:30pm.
Tickets $15 Adv GV, Day of $20.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
CasaBlanca Showroom 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Beginning at 11 a.m., attendees can enjoy barbecue and carnival-style food vendors, beer garden, tailgate activities and games, and music with DJ Lex. The day’s schedule also includes children’s watermelon eating contests and prize giveaways.
- 12:00 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest: 8 to 9 year-olds
- 1:00 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest: 10 to 11 year-olds
- 2:00 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest: 12 to 13 year-olds
The CasaBlanca Rib Fest is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit casablancaresort.com/mesquite-bbq or follow Mesquite Gaming on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.