Organizers of the Pittsburgh BBQ & Bands Fest say the event is back and bigger than before, running through Sunday at the Monroeville Convention Center.“There’s been an overwhelming response of people,” Sal Richetti, the festival’s producer, said on Friday. “The community wanted it back; the convention center’s been great to work with, so we’re back for our second year. We’ll be here for many years to come.”“I think the ribs are ribtastic,” Phil Descanio said. “It’s pretty cool to see this kind of variety, especially in this area.”“We’re excited,” Joe Radzierez said. “For our first time at this barbecue event here, it’s nice to see. If the weather stays nice, we’ll be back.”Food vendors from near and far came back for the second installment of the festival. That includes barbecue from Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. “Our food is delicious, not suspicious. All you need is fingertips and lips,” said Marlan Thomas, of Buck Em BBQ from Fort Worth, Texas. “I like talking to people and getting to know new people. We share the knowledge of what we do with our food. From beef brisket to pork, chicken, bone-in and -out, and we cook it low and slow.”“They bring their own flavors and spices here,” Richetti said. “These are award-winning barbeque vendors. These are the big guys.”Nearly 50 vendors and cover bands are back for a longer weekend this year. An extra day was added to barbecue and bands, and the weekend was moved to the fourth of July, with the hope of drawing more people. “This year, we’ve done four days, Thursday through Sunday,” Richetti said. “We got fireworks happening in the evening on the Fourth. We also have a parade on the Fourth of July as well. It’s definitely going to bring a lot more people.” The festivities are partially inside the convention center to help get out of the heat, but the award-winning cooks are used to it. “You see my fans? I keep them going,” Thomas said. “As long as you keep them moving and talking, you know what I’m saying? The heat is nothing to us.”Vendors, organizers, and visitors hope that barbecue and bands becomes an annual Fourth of July tradition in the Steel City. “It’s the Pittsburgh Barbecue and Bands Festival. What more could you ask for during an America 250 celebration?” Richetti said. The festival starts again at noon on Saturday and ends at 10 p.m. On Sunday, it also starts at noon, but ends at 5 p.m. that day.

MONROEVILLE, Pa. —

Organizers of the Pittsburgh BBQ & Bands Fest say the event is back and bigger than before, running through Sunday at the Monroeville Convention Center.

“There’s been an overwhelming response of people,” Sal Richetti, the festival’s producer, said on Friday. “The community wanted it back; the convention center’s been great to work with, so we’re back for our second year. We’ll be here for many years to come.”

“I think the ribs are ribtastic,” Phil Descanio said. “It’s pretty cool to see this kind of variety, especially in this area.”

“We’re excited,” Joe Radzierez said. “For our first time at this barbecue event here, it’s nice to see. If the weather stays nice, we’ll be back.”

Food vendors from near and far came back for the second installment of the festival. That includes barbecue from Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.

“Our food is delicious, not suspicious. All you need is fingertips and lips,” said Marlan Thomas, of Buck Em BBQ from Fort Worth, Texas. “I like talking to people and getting to know new people. We share the knowledge of what we do with our food. From beef brisket to pork, chicken, bone-in and -out, and we cook it low and slow.”

“They bring their own flavors and spices here,” Richetti said. “These are award-winning barbeque vendors. These are the big guys.”

Nearly 50 vendors and cover bands are back for a longer weekend this year. An extra day was added to barbecue and bands, and the weekend was moved to the fourth of July, with the hope of drawing more people.

“This year, we’ve done four days, Thursday through Sunday,” Richetti said. “We got fireworks happening in the evening on the Fourth. We also have a parade on the Fourth of July as well. It’s definitely going to bring a lot more people.”

The festivities are partially inside the convention center to help get out of the heat, but the award-winning cooks are used to it.

“You see my fans? I keep them going,” Thomas said. “As long as you keep them moving and talking, you know what I’m saying? The heat is nothing to us.”

Vendors, organizers, and visitors hope that barbecue and bands becomes an annual Fourth of July tradition in the Steel City.

“It’s the Pittsburgh Barbecue and Bands Festival. What more could you ask for during an America 250 celebration?” Richetti said.

The festival starts again at noon on Saturday and ends at 10 p.m. On Sunday, it also starts at noon, but ends at 5 p.m. that day.