Rockin’ on - Post-Tribune

Rockin’ on

Griffith readies annual outdoor music festival on Broad Street

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Nolan Clifford, left, helps Rick Vallejo from Sounds Cool Live Audio put up a tent during setup Wednesday for the Rock ’N’ Rail Fest in Griffith. The first two blocks of Broad Street will be shut down for the event. John Smierciak/Post-Tribune

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By Michelle L. Quinn For Post-Tribune

The town of Griffith’s Rock ’N’ Rail Fest has a lot more room this year — and a lot more sun.

Trying to get tents for the four-day fest featuring tribute bands was almost a herculean effort because at least for the moment, they’re in short supply, Council President and Fest Co-organizer Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, said. The Illinois vendors upon which they rely have a lot of their tents tied up with schools in that state for COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts.

And those companies in turn, because of the short supply, increased their rental prices “at least 20%,” he said, making setup even hairier for the town, he said.

“One vendor we use, I spent two or three weeks trying to contact — finally, I heard back, and she said, ‘I meant to call you, but …’ ” Ryfa said. “It’s like that everywhere.”

The town was able to secure some tents from local vendors for its Bar Stage, so that’ll be enclosed, he said, but the large tent on the west side of the street won’t be there.

But a reduction in tents gave way to a new configuration that Ryfa and the organizers feel will work just as well, if not better, he said. They moved many of the vendors north, giving everyone a lot more room to spread out, and they’ve provided more seating in front of the stage for hardcore music lovers to get their fix.

“Right in front of the stage is VIP-sponsored main seating, and it looks really cool how we have it set up,” Ryfa said.

Another change this year is that fest-goers can purchase VIP passes that will guarantee you a table right up front, he said. A table of four will cost $200 per day and $250 for a table of five, and that will give VIPs bottled water and soft drinks as well as a designated tent for beer and wine.

So far, the town’s gotten a pretty good response on that option, he said, and that revenue will help offset the rest of the fest’s costs.

Rounding out the festivities will be the giant beer truck with 10 to 14 bartenders each day, he said.

Rock ’N’ Rail Fest continues from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, with the car and motorcycle show from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.