Woodbridge Ribfest features great ribbers, great beer, great music: organizer

July 27, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Breakout the wet wipes, and if you’re fussy about your clothes bring a bib too, because the summer season’s sauciest fundraising festival is back for its 10th year.

That’s right Woodbridge Ribfest runs Friday, Aug. 5 through to Sunday, Aug. 7 at the Woodbridge Fairgrounds, 100 Porter Ave., just off Kipling Avenue one kilometre north of Hwy. 7.

The event, organized by The Rotary Club of Woodbridge, features five ribbers - Pistol Pete’s Smokehouse, Blazin BBQ, Kentucky Smokehouse, Boss Hog’s, Louisiana Bar-B-Que - serving up plates full of fall-off the bone while vying to take home at least one of several trophies up for grabs, including the coveted people’s choice award.

And you’ll be able to wash down their meaty treats with a cold beer from Railway City Brewing Company.

As always, there will be wine, an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages and other food items available.

Plenty of live music is being served up by acts such as Gabriella Caruso, Rock Therapy, Handsome Dewey and the Swag and Uforia.

“We’ve got great ribbers, great beer, great music and I think we’ve become known for that,” Jamie Maynard, event co-chairperson, said. “The appeal of our ribfest too is that it’s not gigantic like the Etobicoke one and some of the others. It’s a nice feel. It feels like you’re going to a picnic.”

A family friendly event, Ribfest also features activities for children including bouncy castles and a crafts area, Maynard said.

The festivities run Friday from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m., Saturday from noon until 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m.

Admission costs $2 per person.

Last year’s instalment, saw about 15,000 people pour through the fairground gates and organizers anticipate similar sized crowds this year.

Proceeds from this year’s event go to support various charitable causes including Caritas, a local organization that provides drug and alcohol addiction services as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Rotary International’s PolioPlus program, which aims to eradicate the disease, Maynard said.

For more information, visit the Woodbridge Ribfest web page.