THUNDER BAY – There’s a serious meat and greet going on at Marina Park.
The sweet aroma of chicken and ribs, slathered in barbecue sauce, permeates the waterfront air while the annual Thunder Bay Ribfest takes over the park for the second-to-last weekend of August.
Thousands of hungry attendees are expected to flock to the Marina over the next three days, looking to fill up and feast on the succulent offerings of Dinosaur Jr. and Ribs Royale, along with plenty of other options at local food vendors lined up around the park.
Jackie Knough, executive director of Our Kids Count, the organization that will benefit from the weekend’s fundraising activities, said the weather is holding off and the crowds are starting to form.
“We’re getting people walking in. We’re getting a lot of people that are coming from out of town who are staying at the Delta (Hotel), which is kind of cool,” she said.
“But there will be lots of families and lots of children. We have so many children’s activities down here this year, from face painting, to crafts and games. And being at Marina Park, you’ve got the splash pad, you’ve got the skate park and the playground as well.”
Who’s kidding who.
The activities are a bonus.
The crowds are coming for the food.
“There’s literally something for everybody,” Knough said. “We’ve got the treats like Epic Cones and things like that. But the ribbers, those are the guys who travelled quite a way to be with us here today. We’re excited about it.”
Event co-chair Daniel Trevisanutto said there’s no question why Ribfest is so popular.
“It’s such a good event because it really encapsulates what Our Kids Count is about. It’s about bringing family and communities together, and what better place than around food and a good meal, and especially being down here at Marina Park this year.”
Ribfest is in its first year at the waterfront, after spending the last several years set up on the CLE grounds.
Trevisanutto said the food can’t be beat.
“We’re really excited to have Ribs Royale and Dinosaur Smokehouse back. They’ve always been such great partners to work with and they’re bringing back all of their classics – the pork ribs, the pulled pork, the chicken and, for the first time, beef ribs this year. That’s a nice addition to the menu,” Trevisanutto said.
Ribfest also features plenty of entertainment on stage, highlighted by Blood Red Moon on Friday, Headrush on Saturday, and Back Forty on Sunday. The headliners take the stage at 5:30 p.m., with sub-headliners on stage starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and noon on the weekend.
Our Kids Count will be on hand all three days selling 50-50 tickets. Knough said last year’s grand prize totalled more than $20,000 and she’s hoping to deliver that and more in 2024.
Tickets can be bought on site and online at the Our Kids Count website.
The two out-of-town ribbers accept cash only, but there are ATMs on site.
Parking is free at the Marina on Sunday.
