Ribfest returns this weekend
The sweet, barbecue smell of grilling ribs will fill the air at Niagara Square this weekend, as Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise returns with its annual ribfest.
Starting Friday at noon, the event, which features six different ribbers vying for customer favour, has become something of a Father’s Day weekend tradition. Formerly held at Optimist Park, the southern-themed cookoff now takes place at the mall, and has the ribbers — Billy Bones, Bone Daddy’s, Silver Bullet, The Hogfather BBQ, Smoke House Bandits and Fat Boys BBQ — competing for three titles: best ribs, best sauce and people’s choice.
Along with ribs and thirst-quenching beverages, the event features a weekend of entertainment. The lineup is as follows:
Friday, June 15: Live Entertainment 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ProAction Cops for Kids with Riley Michaels
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wilbur James Blues Band
• 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Soul Jam
• 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Vinyl Flux
Saturday, June 16: Live Entertainment noon — 11 p.m.
• noon to 1 p.m. Evan Rotella
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Back in the Daze
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Travelling Beer Bellies
• 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Howling Horns
• 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. MadMen
Sunday, June 17: Live Entertainment noon to 7 p.m.
• noon to 2 p.m. Jessica Wilson
• 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Slider
Ribber Award Presentation, 5 Car Draw 5:05 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. 351 Cleveland Ribfest runs noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Money raised during this event goes back into the community, with past club contributions going to Rotary House, Pathstone Mental Health, School Breakfast Program, Greater Niagara General Hospital (GNGH) Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Niagara, Habitat for Humanity and Literacy Niagara.