The Super Bowl of Rib Feasts!

Wednesday August 31  

Ribbers

Yesterday Tourism Burlington staff attended the media launch for the 16th annual Canada’s Largest Ribfest happening this Labour Day weekend.  With a light breeze off the lake, the sun shining and the smoky smell of pork ribs in the air, it was a wonderful lunch break.  Not only did we hear about all the great things planned for this event, we also saw how the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore used funds raised to support local charities such as the hospital, Food Share and the M.S. Society to name a few.  Since 1996 Ribfest has raised more than $2.3 million for charities! 

We also got a chance to sample the ribs, a tough job but someone has to do it!  Kentucky Smokehouse was the rib team that provided the tasty morsels for the launch and lucky attendees took away a bottle of their delicious sauce.  This year there are 18 rib teams from across North America at the event and on Monday Sept 5th People’s Choice awards are presented – so don’t forget to vote. 

A new feature this year is that Ribfest is being presented by Fearman’s Pork and rib teams are using this local supplier which is great for Fearman’s and for the environment! 

Although my family might beg to differ, people don’t just come down to the park for the ribs.  There is live entertainment all weekend long with 18 acts including John Ellison (Some Kind of Wonderful), Downchild Blues Band, DeBlooze Bros. and many more. 

This Friday is our annual night out at Ribfest with friends joining us from Mississauga (just doing my part to promote tourism!).  We have great fun trying a variety of racks which we share and we have become quite the rib connoisseurs   (or so we think).  A messy time is had by all while enjoying the music and gazing over the lake.  We look forward to this night all year where we celebrate the last long weekend of the summer. 

For information on Ribfest including a list of ribbers, entertainment times, bus shuttles etc. visit their website, the Tourism Burlington website or stop into our Visitor Centre open 9 – 4 p.m. each day.

TourBurlGirl