St. Louis cooks up Memorial Day bash

Let someone else do the grilling this Memorial Day.

The ninth annual Rib America Festival returns to downtown St. Louis on Friday through Monday with music, food and fun. Dozens of teams fire up the grills and slap on the meat to celebrate an American tradition.

Rib America also hosts festivals in the likes of Kansas City, Mo., and Indianapolis, but at less than two hours away, the St. Louis festival is definitely worth the drive.

Music starts early each night. Take a blast from the past with Beatlemania Live at 6 p.m. and then Dennis DeYoung and the music of Styx at 9 p.m. Friday. On Saturday afternoon, bands take stage at 1:30 and the party really picks up with Louisiana natives Cowboy Mouth.

Cowboy Mouth's lead singer is also the band's drummer. It's a high energy dance party. Then the Creoles relinquish the stage to KC and the Sunshine band to wind down the night. Sunday begins again at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Blind Melon, Jonny Lang and Night Ranger.

Celebrate Memorial Day in the Soldier's Memorial Plaza with more barbecue from award-winning teams. If the food doesn't bring you back, maybe .38 Special's performance at 7 p.m. will.

Gates open at 11 a.m. each day. Admission is free before 5 p.m. Friday; free before 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday; $5 any other time.