Finger-licking fun in Orange

The Shack Shakers bring their rockabilly and blues mix to the third annual Trashy Ribs & Blues Festival in Orange.

BY CRAIG SCHULIN

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Ready for some trashy ribs?

No, you won’t have to dive in dumpsters.

The third annual Trashy Ribs & Blues Festival in Orange is part of two events that day.

In the morning, 10-person teams will meet up for the Dash for Trash.

The goal is to help clean up litter while at the same time having a good time and maybe winning a cash prize.

“We provide bags, gloves, safety vests, separate the recyclables and haul off the trash,” said Jeff Curtis, executive director of the Orange Downtown Alliance, the organizer of the day’s activities.

Prizes will be awarded for a variety of categories, including “most cigarette butts,” “most aluminum cans,” “largest item,” etc.

After washing their hands the dashers can join the crowd when the festival kicks off ribs and blues.

“We have four rib cookers, each with their own distinct flavors,” said Curtis.

In addition to the food, the festival also features live music performed by three Virginia blues bands.

“We’re particular about our blues. It has to be good,” added Curtis.

Returning this year are the local quartet the Shack Shakers, who bring funky blues with a dash of rock to the folks who like to get up and dance.

Richmond-based Kurt Crandall and True Story also are coming back to Trash Ribs.

Noted for his talent playing the harmonica, Crandall has performed throughout the United States and Europe.

New to the festival is Concrete Blues, a trio out of Northern Virginia.

They perform in the style of the early American blues up through to the powerful, heavy blues of the Hendrix and Cream era.

The event is also very focused on being green.

“We recycle everything we can. We have a scraping station where folks can bring what’s left on their plates and scrape it into containers that will be delivered for compost use,” said Curtis.

Children can play in the interactive water fountain, a great source of entertainment and way to stay cool.

“We really focus on making this a fun, family event,” said Curtis.

He came up with the idea a few years ago as a way of bringing the community together, as well as raising the profile of Orange elsewhere.

“We hope to make the festival a trademark for the area,” said Curtis.

Table seating will be set up, though folding chairs are a good idea to bring along.

If ribs aren’t your thing, vendors will also be selling plates of barbecue or fish.

What: Trashy Ribs & Blues Festival

Where: Downtown Orange, Short Street, next to the Train Station

When: Saturday, June 16, 5–10 p.m.

Cost: Free. Rib plates $6,  $1 per side.

Info: 540/672-2540;  orangedowntownalliance.org

Craig Schulin: 540/374-5403

cschulin@freelancestar.com

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