Meat lovers rejoice, Woodbridge ribfest just around corner

YorkRegion.com
July 31, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Thousands of hungry meat lovers are expected to descend on the Woodbridge Fairgrounds, just more than a week from now, to sink their teeth into platefuls of grilled ribs.

That’s right, the Rotary Club of Woodbridge’s annual Woodbridge Ribfest is back for its eighth year.

The saucy summer fundraiser gets underway at the fairgrounds - off Kipling Ave., north of Hwy. 7 - Friday, Aug. 8 and runs through to Sunday, Aug. 10.

Five ribbers will be serving up fall-off-the-bone ribs while vying to take home at least one of several trophies up for grabs, including the coveted people’s choice award.

If grilled meat isn’t your thing, there will be vendors offering up an assortment of grub including corn on the cob, sweet potatoes and ice cream.

Railway City Brewing Company returns this year, providing beer to help you wash it all down. Of course, non-alcoholic beverages will be available, too.

There’s also plenty of entertainment including live music by Skrou, Hudu Rising Blues Band, Handsome Dewey & The Swag, The Campfire Poets, Mason Dixon and former Canadian Idol finalist Vince Benenati, among others.

For kids, there is a bouncy castle and face painting as well as an arts and crafts area.

The festivities take place from noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s a great, fun afternoon or evening,” said event co-chairperson Jamie Maynard. “It’s great to bring a group of people and try all the different ribs from the different ribbers. We’ve got great food and music.”

There’s a $2 admission charge, which goes to support various Rotary Club initiatives.

Last year’s event attracted between 12,000 and 14,000 people over three days and raised about $40,000, Maynard said.

This year’s event will help raise funds, in part, for Hogar Del Nino, an orphanage for children with disabilities in El Salvador, and Caritas, a local organization that provides drug and alcohol addiction services, he said.

For more information, visit woodbridgeribfest.com.