THUNDER BAY – Ribfest is moving to the waterfront.
The popular, mouth-watering late summer event is headed to Marina Park, where organizers hope to take advantage of the festival area, the scenic views and the nearby playground for kids to play at and a ready-made stage to entertain young and old.
Slated for Aug. 23 to Aug. 25, Ribfest will once again be staged in support of local charity Our Kids Count, an organization that provides supports for Thunder Bay families throughout the year. Ribs Royale and Dinosaur Smokehouse, favourites of the ribs-and-barbecue-chicken-eating crowd, will provide the main fare, though there will also be plenty of local vendors serving up tasty treats for those with different tastes.
Event co-chair Daniel Trevisanutto said the move to Marina Park seemed like a natural one.
“We’re really excited to be down at Marina Park this year because we really want to highlight what a family-friendly event Ribfest is,” Trevisanutto said.
“We thought what better location than Marina Park and we’re so happy to be working with the City of Thunder Bay to make use of this space. We’ve got the fantastic playground on the grounds here, we’ve got a fantastic walking space, the skate park. There’s just a lot of things already here to help grow the event naturally.”
The waterfront is Ribfest’s fourth home.
It was initially held in the downtown north core in the Gateway Casino parking lot, switched to another lot at Lakehead University during the pandemic, when it became a drive-through event, and then moved to the CLE grounds the past several years.
Regardless of location, the crowds have always come out, Trevisanutto said.
“It’s that once-a-year time to come get these slow-cooked ribs that these guys come all the way over to cook for us. It’s about bringing our entire community together. It’s about bringing families together. What better way to do that than over some food and picnic-style barbecue,” he said.
Our Kids Count executive director Jackie Knough, said she’s excited at the change in venue, but said there will still be plenty of familiar activities taking place.
“We’re going to be bringing in the typical children’s things, like face painting, the bouncy castles and it’s great for local people who want to come out and join the fun,” Knough said. “We’re going to share a program in the near future, with all the things to expect, over the next few days.”
There will be plenty of local entertainment too, she promised.
Most importantly, Ribfest is one of Our Kids Count’s biggest fundraisers each year, she said, adding the 50/50 draw sale tickets are already on sale.
“You can go online right now and get 50/50 tickets at www.ourkidscount.ca,” she said. “It’s all online. We will have them down here during that event too. It’s 100 days tomorrow until Ribfest. We’re excited. It’s coming up fast.”
Knough added that Our Kids Count will also be providing free bus rides to anyone who needs transportation to and from Ribfest, which could help alleviate concerns about paid parking arriving at waterfront lots on June 1.
She also said they're hoping to make the waterfront the event's permanent home, but acknowledged planned construction at the festival area could temporarily delay the move.
