Join thousands of hungry patrons for a weekend feast of ribs cooked by world-class rib teams — washed down with craft beer, cider and wine — while being entertained by live music from local bands at Esquimalt Ribfest.
This year the event, established in 2013, boasts six big-rig barbecue companies, eight local craft brewers and more than 20 live performances on stage. The tasty fun runs from Friday to Sunday at Bullen Park.
“The event has such a happy vibe to it. It still has the feel of an outside house party in someone’s back yard,” said Tom Woods, chair of the Ribfest Society, which hosts the event.
The event is limited to six barbecue companies, with Smoke Dem Bones, a company from Kamloops, joining the roster this year.
In the spirit of friendly competition, the ribbers (members of the rib teams) bring their best ribs and best rib sauces to the festival, for both a judging panel and bragging rights if they win the People’s Choice Award.
Look for newcomers Sakebomb on the beverage side, introducing a hard seltzer (4.5 per cent alcohol) made with sake as its base. The Vancouver-based company will bring their ready-to-drink lineup to the event.
Woods is especially excited about the music.
“We’re really happy with our high-level music acts this year, with Fleetwood Magic from Vancouver on Friday night. Close your eyes and you will swear that you were hearing Fleetwood Mac,” said Woods.
“We’re also lucky to get Juno Award-winner Jack Semple and his cover band, the Horn Dogs on Saturday.”
There will be free children’s activities, local arts, with almost 20 charitable and commercial vendors.
The volunteer-run festival has, in conjunction with the Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation and seven local non-profit groups, raised more than $1 million over the past nine years.
The foundation has disbursed $450,000 to more than 40 local groups.
The Ribfest Society has allocated $330,000 of the $420,000 it has raised to the Es-Whoy-Malth Community Field Collaboration. The funds will be used as seed money for a major grant application for a three-phase community project that includes an all-weather synthetic turf playing field, a multi-purpose field house, a grandstand, lights for year-round use and a track/chip trail.
Admission to the event is free.
“We wanted to keep it free because people these days feel they are getting gouged every way they turn,” said Woods. “We do ask them, on their way out, to consider making a donation if they think they had a great time.”
Food and beverage purchases are cash-only. The event runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The rib judging contest takes place in front of the stage at 4 p.m. Saturday. The event is at Bullen Park, 527 Fraser St.
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