2026 Ribfest to move away from Riverfront Park, no national headliners planned

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Construction is turning out to be a major piece of conversation in 2026.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge closure has thrown a wrench in usual traffic flow and work on Belgrade Avenue will soon begin as well.

Those projects are affecting events around the area as well, as Blues on Belgrade has already been pushed back to September 19th.

Fun Days is still on as scheduled and the city of North Mankato is confident that the plan will stay.

“The parade actually turns off before it’s going to hit that construction area, the parade does, and at Wheeler Park, so they will turn prior to that and at Wheeler Park will be the actual carnival,” explained the city’s April Larson.

Across the river, construction is planned on Vetter Stone Amphitheater later this summer.

That means Ribfest, which has called the park home for more than 15 years, needs to be moved.

This year’s event will return to Civic Center Plaza, a much smaller space.

The plaza is no stranger to events like these, hosting Songs on the Lawn each year.

In fact, Ribfest itself spent its first 12 years there.

It won’t be without changes, however, as the event has shrunk from four days down to two, and the headline acts have been forgone in favor of smaller, local performers.

“When it started down here the primary focus was on the food. We had regional local bands as entertainment,” said Eric Jones, one of Ribfest’s organizers. “As we grew and especially as we transitioned to Vetter Stone Amphitheater and had more space and a bigger stage we started focusing more on those national acts that would come through. Bringing it back down here we’re going to put the focus back on the food and the local and regional bands.”

Ribfest will be at Civic Center Plaza August 7 and 8.

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