Rotary clubs cancel RibFest.
Sydney Ribfest cancelled for second consecutive year
SYDNEY — For many, waiting hungrily in a long lineup for a steaming, fragrant platter of barbecued ribs or chicken is an essential part of a Cape Breton summer.
Unfortunately, it won’t be a part of this summer, for the second year in a row. And yes, you can blame it on COVID.
Sydney Ribfest takes about six months to organize and with this year’s back-andforth COVID restrictions, the four Rotary clubs within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality decided to not go ahead with it this year, said spokesperson Michele McKinnon.
“We wished things were different, that’s for sure,” McKinnon told the Cape Breton Post in a phone interview. “With the uncertainty relating to the pandemic, it was really difficult to be able to plan ahead. And as you can imagine, an event like this one takes a lot of planning. And we … didn’t know how many people could safely gather. In order to have any certainty, we felt it best to just not plan for ribfest this year.
“We’re certainly hoping that in 2022 we will be back and we will be better than ever.”
The event, which was last held in 2019, attracted 35,000 people over a three-day period. Last year’s event was cancelled as well, due to the pandemic.
But if you’re seriously in need of a rib-fix, there will be a ribfest in Halifax this year but it won’t be anything like past events. The Rotary Club of Halifax Harbour will do it in co-operation with the Westin Nova Scotia and it will feature pickup and delivery only. Customers can order online by going to https://ribfesthalifax.ca/ and can either pick up their dinner at the Westin, or have it delivered within the majority of HRM.
Besides disappointing ribhungry Cape Bretoners, the cancellation of the annual event is bad news for local charities who have received funding because of this event.
“We always feature a charity and people have the opportunity to give at the gate, so in five years, we raised over $300,000,” said McKinnon. “The first three years, Hospice Cape Breton was the featured charity, and the next year it was Caleb’s Courage and the Cape Breton Regional Hospital’s Cancer Patient Care Fund.
“For Rotary, it’s a big fundraiser for us because the four clubs that are involved putting the Rotary Ribfest on, we share in the proceeds that come from the sale of drinks. In turn, we’re able to support a number of other charities in the community.”
McKinnon says it takes a lot of work and volunteers to put on the event but it is rewarding to everyone involved.
“There’s so many volunteers involved and a lot of logistics with the site and setup and the vendors that come, not only the ribbers but the local vendors, so it takes a lot of planning and it takes a lot of work but it’s worth every minute.
“We certainly wish things were different but we’re really looking forward to 2022.”