Ribfest heats up Montebello Park
Sweltering weekend weather didn’t stop the crowds from visiting Montebello Park, during the 19th annual St. Catharines Rotary Ribfest.
As temperatures soared to above 30 C, Rotarian Wade Stayzer said most people waited until the park cooled down in the evenings before giving in to their appetites for barbecued ribs and great music.
“We tend to do most of our business at night when people come out to see the bands,” Stayzer said.
And it could have been worse. It could have been raining.
“It’s a great family atmosphere here in the park, and we’re just thrilled this year that we’re not seeing any rain,” Stayzer said.
The event was expected to bring in about $80,000 to $100,000 to help the Rotarians support community programs such as making donations possible for organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Niagara Health, Niagara Children’s Centre and the city’s performing arts centre, to name a few.
“Everything that we raise here goes right back into the community,” Stayzer said. “We really thank the community for coming out every year, because without them we obviously don’t have a ribfest.”
Rotarian Serge Paquin, who took over running the event for the first time this year, said “a great committee” and dozens of hardworking volunteers made his job of running the event “easier than in years past.”
“Having such a great team in the club makes my job super easy.”
Despite the size of the event, he said it falls slightly behind the club’s annual televised auction for the money it brings in.
But the ribfest, he added, is more fun.
At the auction, he said, Rotarians don’t get to enjoy Montebello Park, outdoors on a beautiful summer weekend.
The event featured the delicious food prepared by ribbers Billy Bones, Silver Bullet, Bone Daddy BBQ, Camp 31, Uncle Sam’s, Boss Hogs and newcomer Miss Piggy’s World Famous BBQ,
as well as other food vendors.
“The ribbers are a great group. They’ve been dealing with us since Day 1,” Paquin said. “We love dealing with them. They’ve been a great partner for us.”
Stayzer said a “good line of local bands” kept the crowds entertained this year, including Jonesy on opening night, Vinyl Flux on Saturday, The Associates on Sunday and The Howling Horns, Monday night.
For the most part, he said “people were generally happy.”
“And we’re happy when they’re happy.”