Ribfest rocks Eden

By Miranda Baines

Published: May 7, 2008

“We predominantly do Southern rock, country and classic rock,” said Wendi Craig, who does lead and back-up vocals. She and her husband Brian Craig, who does lead vocals and guitar, started the band in 2004.

Crowds at Saturday’s Ribfest can expect to hear Paradox perform everything from “Sweet Home Alabama” to Jason Aldean’s “Hick Town” to Sugarland hits.
The band performed at last year’s Ribfest, at Riverfest and at the now-defunct Apple Festival. Wendi said the band loves performing in Eden because of the great crowd responses.

“Everybody’s always been very warm and friendly,” she said.

The entertainment at Ribfest will begin with a performance by the U-Turn Band from 10 a.m. to noon. Almost Country, a regional band, will perform at noon, The
Mamas and the Papa will line dance at 2 p.m., Eden School of Music & Dance will perform from 2:30 to 3 p.m. and Veronica Jones will take the stage at 3 p.m.

Johnny Farmer, director of Eden Parks and Recreation, said Ribfest is a “family-friendly” event. This year’s Ribfest will offer amusements and entertainment for children, music, arts and crafts made by local artisans, and, of course, ribs.

“We have about seven vendors that will be selling ribs and barbecue and the rest will be selling hotdogs and other types of food,” said Farmer.

Farmer said the purpose of Ribfest is to provide something fun for people in surrounding areas to do on a “nice sunny weekend.” When Freedom Park opened a few years ago, the city wanted to do some special events to promote the park, said Farmer. Ribfest has been a successful event that continues to grow. To get to Freedom Park, turn onto North Edgewood Road, off Stadium Drive in Eden. The park is on your left.

Car Cruise-In
The Reidsville Downtown Corporation, Reidsville Merchants’ Association and Smith-Stokes will sponsor the second Reidsville Downtown Cruise In of the season from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. The EZ Street Cruisers Car Club invites people to bring cars 25 years and older and park or cruise the downtown strip. Star 39 News will do live interviews with all car owners.
The Impacts, a crowd favorite from last year’s cruise-ins, will play live music in the Southwest Market Street parking lot. The downtown restaurants will be open during the summer’s downtown cruise-ins, so stop by Short Sugars, Cafe 99, Carolina Cafe or Backstreet Buzz Coffee House.
For more information on the activities, call Diana Moran, Reidsville Downtown Corporation coordinator, at (336) 349-1045, or Robbin Miller, president of the EZ Street Cruisers Car Club, at (336) 349-8911.

Second Saturday Songwriters’ Soiree
The Bill Ely Band will provide the music at the Second Saturday Songwriters’ Soiree at the at The Gallery at 217 S.W. Market St. in Reidsville at 8 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 7:30. The Eden-based Bill Ely Band will entertain the crowd with rock music with flavors of folk, blues and grunge. Ely combines his California style with his knowledge of Appalachian music to create a unique sound. The band is working on a new Rokk Bottom Records CD “Crush,” which talks about what happens “when life blows you down.”

Saturday Night Music
“A Cup of Blues” will perform at the Backstreet Buzz Coffee House at 234 S.W. Market St. in Reidsville from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Rockingham County Hamfest
The Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club will sponsor the 4th Annual Rockingham County Hamfest on Saturday at Community Baptist Church at 509 Triangle Road in Reidsville. The event begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Hamfest is an opportunity for amateur radio and computer users to sell, buy and trade merchandise. Food will be available. Admission is $5.

Music Jamboree
Everyone is invited to the annual music jamboree on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Beasley Farm, at 252 Webster Road in Stoneville. The jamboree will offer a variety of music provided by the Stoneville Pentecostal Holiness Church Band and Singers, Hubert Lawson and the Bluegrass Country Boys, and the Ridgeway Church of God Singers, to name a few. Pickers are encouraged to bring their instruments and play along. At the jamboree, chow down on free barbecue, corn on the cob, drinks and covered dishes, as well as snow cones and cotton candy. Activities will include volleyball, horseshoes, pony rides, sack races and a trampoline. Bring a covered dish and lawn chair and enjoy the day. No alcohol will be permitted. For directions or more information, call 548-3495.

Trike-a-Thon
The First Bank Relay for Life team will sponsor a Trike-a-Thon beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the gazebo in Mayodan Park. Each child participating will receive a goodie bag. Grand prizes and door prizes also will be awarded.

Upcoming – Habitat Yard Sale
The Rockingham Habitat for Humanity will have a benefit yard sale on May 17 at 7 a.m. Drop off item donations for the yard sale between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday or Thursday at the Rockingham Habitat office at 310 W. Meadow Road in Eden. For more information, call 627-0160.

Take Two
The Rowdy Frynds Tour starring Lyrnyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. in concert is coming to the Greensboro Coliseum at 7 p.m. Friday. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is at 1921 W. Lee St. in Greensboro. Ticket prices are $29.50 and up. To buy tickets to Friday’s concert, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com or call (336) 852-1100.

Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.