The banner and band scaffolding/set-up in the 300 block of Central Avenue during Saturday’s Blue Collar BBQ & Arts Fest in Faribault
FROM DEAFENING MUSIC that bounced between historic buildings along Faribault’s Central Avenue, to the savory taste and tantalizing, smokey smell of barbecued meat to the cheers of onlookers when a local celebrity plunged into the dunk tank to the clink of washers against asphalt in the washer tournament to human faces morphing, via paint, into animal faces, offerings at the fourth annual Blue Collar BBQ & Arts Fest in Faribault drew crowds, and smiles, on a picture perfect Saturday.
An overview of the crowd early into the event on Saturday, looking to the 300 block of historic downtown Farbault.
Coordinated by the Paradise Center for the Arts, the 13-hour free festival focused on bringing people into the historic downtown to enjoy/participate in the arts, music, food, a BBQ and homemade brew competition, and more.
The Black Widow BBQ team, one of about a dozen competing for top prizes of $500 in several categories.
BBQ teams set up along a side street to cook their meats and desserts.
A Texas native, now living in Faribault and a member of The Black Hat “BBQ” team, sprays apple juice onto his St. Louis style pork ribs during the BBQ contest.
Grill Cabin team members, from New Prague, prepare entries in the BBQ competition.
Retail stores like The Crafty Maven, 212 Central Avenue, at the heart of the arts and crafts fair and kids’ activities, expected an increase in business with an influx of an anticipated 5,000 people into the downtown for the festival. And that’s part of the plan, to celebrate downtown businesses, many of them event supporters. Other businesses in the community also sponsored parts of the festival.
Flower art and more, shaped and welded from old silverware, etc. is helping the DeWall brothers of DeWall Bros Metal Creations of Grand Meadow finance their college educations. Their art was for sale at the arts fest.
While the DeWall men were peddling their metal art, the women–mom/wife, Cindy, and girlfriend, Allison– were shopping and getting their faces painted by Jodi Gustafson of Big Shoe Entertainment.
Bob Maegerlein of Rochester, specializing in Raku ware, sold his pottery at the arts fair.
I arrived late morning and wandered for several hours past vendors—wishing I could sample the meat smoking in BBQ contestants’ grills; admiring the artistic creations of artists and a gifted face painter; ducking into the Paradise Center for the Arts to photograph the current art show, Car pARTS; steering mostly clear of the north end of the 300 block of Central because I couldn’t tolerate the volume of the live band music; trying a vendor’s delicious BBQed meat trio sampler that was way overpriced for the quantity (plus, no forks included); and, finally, stopping at Pawn Minnesota and then a Somali clothing shop on my way to the car.
Blues-rock guitarist/musician Trent Romens was among six featured musical acts.
Did the festival accomplish for me what I expected? Yes. I was entertained, although I would have appreciated a much lower volume on the music. Ditto for the price on the meat sampler. And I would have liked access to the home brew competition, which was tucked into the Paradise somewhere.
But all in all, the festival provided a fun way to while away part of a Saturday. And, for those downtown business owners who hoped the event would draw shoppers into stores, it worked for me. I’d never been into the pawn store and wasn’t even aware of the Somali shop or another ethnic business across the street (which wasn’t open).
If you’re from Faribault, I hope you took time on Saturday to attend the Blue Collar BBQ & Arts Fest and appreciate what we have, right here in our own community.
With the weather about as good as it gets on a summer day, attendance was high at the Blue Collar BBQ & Arts Fest.
Dad and grandpa watched the pets while the kids played in the bouncy inflatables. These pom pom pets were a popular item sold at the arts fair.
Kids practiced for the washer tournament. I was not convinced by a tournament organizer to participate. “She would throw the washer through a store window,” my husband told him. He would be right. Either that or I would have struck a passerby. We walked away, for the safety of those in attendance.
Isabella, 7, of Faribault, one of the many kids who lined up for the free face painting. Check back for an additional post featuring the artwork of professional face painter Jodi Gustafson of Big Shoe Entertainment.
Taking a turn in the dunk tank…
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It looked like it was a lot of fun!! I love the adult face painting!!! I would never ever think of having that done and it was awesome on the adults!!!! As always, great photos!
I wanted to get my face painted. But the line was way too long and I didn’t want to make kids wait. I have some even more incredible face painting pix. That Jodi is one talented artist. Watch for more images in another post.
Oh I can’t wait!! What I saw was amazing!!!
I can almost smell that BBQ!!! I wish we would have known about that event! It was such a perfect day, I took off on the bike and headed for Prairie du Chien (on Wisc. Hwy. 35), over to Boscobel then back to La Crosse on Hwy. 61. Very little traffic (none in my lane!!!). No pics as I only stopped once for gas……175 beautiful miles!!!
I thought of doing a post about the activities in Faribault this weekend. But then I would sound like the local Chamber, which is OK, I guess. I hit two other events, which I’ll be posting about. One you will find of particular interest because I was at the local Harley shop.
Info after the fact……..rats!!!!!!!! However, so well presented!! Hehe!
I know, I know. People do appreciate knowing about events in advance, but…I only have so much time and no one’s paying me…
You know what you say to kids when a line like that is put out there……..excuses, excuses!!!! Love ya;-D
You got me.
Major teasing going on here;-)
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to be in the dunk tank and that face painting is pretty impressive. It’s lovely when towns put on these sorts of events but I agree with you Audrey, often the music is too loud xx
I read a column by the local newspaper editor, who volunteered to serve a shift on the dunk tank seat, that the water was quite cold given the cooler day. And yes, the Blue Collar BBQ and Arts Fest is a wonderful event which takes a lot of effort and I am so appreciative of this. But the volume of the music was unbelievably loud; I heard other complaints and saw people walking around with their fingers plugging their ears. I understand it was turned down after residents of downtown apartments complained. But if it was, I didn’t notice.
I stopped by to make a stop at the Cheese Cave shop, and was pleasantly surprised to see this event going on. I had a brisket sandwich but I forget which vendor it was from. The band while I was there was playing old fogie music so the loudness wasn’t that tough to handle. Or maybe I’m used to it being in bands. Anyways what a fun downtown!
Love the Cheese Cave, especially the cheese made/aged in Faribault. Glad the music volume was OK for you. I didn’t mean to be overly critical on the volume, but I know quite a few fest-goers thought the music was way too loud. Anyway, yes, we do have a great downtown and events like this make it even better.