Puddle of Mudd, Sister Hazel Headline a SOLD OUT WRKR Night at Ribfest

It's been a long time comin', but Kalamazoo Ribfest delivered in HUGE form for 2022.

After three years of waiting, the smell of smokers and sunscreen wafted out of Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo once again, and Saturday night, WRKR Night, that crowd was at capacity, as Ribfest was officially SOLD OUT for the first time ever.

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Thousands of people rolled through downtown to try ribs from local, and national vendors, but it was the local smokers that shined the brightest.

This year's Ribfest winners were:

• 3rd Place - Bomba's
• 2nd Place - Skinny Kenny's
• 1st Place - Virgil's (Defending 2019 Champion)

So congratulations to our winners this year!

But it wasn't JUST about the ribs (though, they were kind of the whole point). The Rocker Morning Show held their first annual Ribfest Cornhole Tournament with eight teams playing.

It was a hard-fought battle for all of the teams (except Team "Meat-House" who failed to score even a single point), but ultimately, "Your Hole is My Goal" came out victorious!

Then, the night really took off with live acts.

First, and foremost, the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock put on a show with several of their bands, made up of area Kalamazoo youth. They were followed by the "heavy, fuzz-soaked" rock and roll of BoneHawk.

Sister Hazel took the stage at about 7:30 to an already packed concert area full of first-timers and seasoned "Hazel-Nuts" who have followed the band for years.

And finally, Puddle of Mudd, closed out the Sold-Out Ribfest Crowd. I briefly got to talk with Wes before and after the show, and he was extremely happy with the way Michigan and Kalamazoo treated him.

"You guys are the best, thank you."

Kalamazoo Ribfest is ALREADY fielding questions about who YOU would like to see headline next year's festival!

See just SOME of the photos we got at WRKR night for this year's Ribfest below.