It's tough to tell what's a bigger attraction at tonight's opener for Ribfest: '70s rocker John Fogerty on the mainstage, or the lip-smacking barbecued ribs and chicken smoked on grills set up around Vinoy Park.

You don't have to choose.

Pay $20 to enter the park (only $13 if you have bought in advance) and you have direct access to the concert stages. The event is a charity fundraiser for the Northeast Exchange Club, so that should make the admission cost a little easier to handle.

Fogerty, the former leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival ("Proud Mary," "Down on the Corner" and about a dozen others), is set to hit the mainstage at about 9 p.m.

Fogerty is the final act of the day, with nearly eight hours of music before him. The music starts at 1 p.m. with Tampa Taiko, and includes performances by Sound Parlor, Mark to Mark, Drake White, Trop Rock Junkies and Drake White and Promise of the Real.

Food will be on sale as soon as the gates open at 11. Plan on taking some time to make your food choices, since there will be literally dozens of award-winning vendors with ribs, pulled pork, chicken sausage and other barbecued items for sale. Wash it down with the oceans of beer at the tents placed strategically around the park. Or you can drink lemonade if you wish.

Remember, this is just the first day of the three-day festival. The fest runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, with '70s rockers Styx and Tampa's own The Outlaws headlining. Sunday is "Country" day, with Trace adkins headlining.

You can get more information at www.ribfest.org.

            Performers and show times are subject to change without notice.