THE HISTORY |
The Kickoff and Rib Festival was started in 1990 at Three Rivers Stadium. Much like today’s event, it featured concerts by national artists, national rib vendors, games, and more. The event was set around the circular perimeter of Three Rivers Stadium with the main entrance at the foot of the Gate A ramp. After the closing of Three Rivers Stadium, Acrisure Stadium continued the tradition of hosting the Kickoff and Rib Festival. The event started in a parking lot adjacent to the stadium and then grew onto Art Rooney Avenue which now encompasses over half of Acrisure Stadium. The “midway” is set up along Art Rooney Avenue and filled with rib vendors, festival foods and beverages, games, rides, and more. The FedEx Great Hall is open for fans to view the team’s Super Bowl trophies, the Hall of Fame Museum, Steelers memorabilia, the Terrible Towel Wall and more.
Western Pennsylvania is rich in football history and the annual Acrisure Stadium Kickoff and Rib Festival celebrate the kickoff of the region's favorite tradition.
NEW THIS YEAR |
- Veterans Place Cornhole Tournament, the area's largest cornhole tournament
- Farm to Table Farmers Market featuring local home-grown products for purchase from area farmers
- The Jim Beam Backyard BBQ Experience
- Battlegories DJ Battle - the region's best DJs face off in a never before seen show
- BBQ & Blues Monday, featuring Billy Price
- Art Rooney Avenue Street Parties with DJ Steve Maffei Jr
- Zodiac Motorcycle Club Bike Ride to benefit Veterans Place
THE SCHEDULE |
Daily Activities
- Ribs from nationally renowned rib vendors
- Festival foods, including funnel cakes, lemonade, and more provided by Seivers
- A variety of vendors offering arts, crafts, home goods, and more
- FedEx Great Hall open to Rib Fest patrons:
- Steelers Memorabilia
- Hall of Fame Lockers
- Steelers Pro Shop open (hours vary)
- Saturday-Monday: Pittsburgh Knights Esports Gaming Free Play, Show Matches, and Talent Scouting
- Rides provided by Staunch Entertainment
- Games provided by Midgety Entertainment
- Farm to Table Farmers Market featuring local home grown products for purchase from area farmers:
- 5 Generations Bakers
- Indoor Year-Round East Liberty Farmers Market
- Cherish Creamery
- Keystone Cultures
- Jenny Lee
- Uncle Jammy's
- Cherry Valley
- JL Kennedy Meats
- Larry Lemmon
- Farm to Table
- The Jim Beam Backyard BBQ Experience
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Noon - End of Pitt vs. WVU game
Daily activities plus:
- Backyard Brawl - Pitt vs. West Virginia**
Gates open: 5:00pm
Kickoff: 7:00pm
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
**Ticket required to attend Pitt vs. West Virginia game. Regular ticket charges apply.
Friday, September 2, 2022
Noon - 11:00pm
Daily activities plus:
- Steely McBeam appearance
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Steelers Experience
2:00pm - 8:00pm - Steelers Pro Shop open
10:00am - 7:00pm - Farm to Table Farm Market
Noon - 11:00pm - FREE Concert at Acrisure Stadium Gate A
The Clarks with special guests The Borstal Boys
7:30pm - The Borstal Boys
9:00pm - The Clarks
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
Saturday, September 3, 2022
Noon - 11:00pm
(5K Run & Walk begins at 8:00am)
Daily activities plus:
- Steelers 5K Run & Walk
8:00am- Benefits the Arthur J. Rooney Scholarship Fund
- Hosted by Franco Harris
- Appearance by Steely McBeam: 8:00am - 10:00am
- Steelers Pro Shop open
8:00am - 6:00pm - Farm to Table Farm Market
Noon - 11:00pm - Zodiac Motorcycle Club Bike Run
- Benefits Veterans Place
- Begins at the Zodiac Motorcycle Club Bike Run Clubhouse and ends at Acrisure Stadium.
- Registration cost: $20 / Rider; $15 for Passenger
- Register at veteransplaceusa.org
- Happy Hour Art Rooney Avenue Street Party with DJ Steve Maffei Jr
4:00pm - 7:00pm - The Shins with special guest Joseph at Stage AE Indoors**
Doors open: 6:30pm
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
**Ticket required to attend The Shins concert at Stage AE. Regular ticket charges apply.
Sunday, September 4, 2022
Noon - 11:00pm
Daily activities plus:
- Steelers Experience
2:00pm - 8:00pm - Steelers Pro Shop open
10:00am - 6:00pm - Veterans Place Cornhole Tournament in the FedEx Great Hall
Doors open: 11:00am
Tournament Begin: Noon- Benefits Veterans Place
- 2 simultaneous tournaments - Social and Advanced
- Qualifying rounds on the Ford Fan Zone; Championship Round on the field.
- Register at veteransplaceusa.org or inside the FedEx Great Hall on event day.
- Art Rooney Avenue Labor Day Street Party with DJ Steve Maffei Jr
Noon - 3:00pm - Farm to Table Farm Market
Noon - 11:00pm - FREE Live Performance - Battlegories DJ Battle
7:00pm - 10:00pm- 4 of the best DJ's in the city will be showcasing their unique mixing and DJ abilities. DJ's: B-Renn, Arie Cole, Dr. Dap, and Climax will each be performing 3 different themed Battlegories sets.
- This interactive event will transform the way you think of a DJ!
- Special performances by DJ ADMC an DJ Petey C!
- Hosted by DJ Petey C and Daisy Jade of KDKA!
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
Monday, September 5, 2022
Noon - 9:00pm
Daily activities plus:
- Steelers Pro Shop open
10:00am - 6:00pm - Steelers Experience
2:00pm - 7:00pm - Steely McBeam appearance
2:00pm - 4:00pm - Farm to Table Farm Market
Noon - 9:00pm - Steelers Youth Mini-Camp
2:00pm - 4:00pm- Open to boys and girls grades 1 - 8
- Registration required; Register for FREE
- Kids will participate in drills for Wide Receivers, Running Backs, Quarterbacks, Defensive Backs, and Linebackers
- FREE Concert at Acrisure Stadium Gate A
BBQ & Blues Monday
2:30pm - The Jimmy Adler Band
4:00pm - Dan Bubien & the Delta Struts
5:30pm - Billy Price
*Entertainment and activities subject to change
Find out more details and information HERE!
