The third version of the lip-smacking, mouth-watering, finger-licking Penticton Rotary RibFest kicked off in Okanagan Lake Park today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great weekend,鈥� says Penticton Rotary president and RibFest chair Barb Hoolaeff. 鈥淲e packed 35,000 people into the park last year over four days and we鈥檙e expecting interest to be just as high this year.鈥�
Hoolaeff said there are plenty of great tweaks in store for the public for this year鈥檚 event, from redesigned beverage gardens 鈥� offering a better experience for adults and families 鈥� to an expanded menu for the Rib Valet service.
鈥淥ur Rib Valets will be offering a lot more variety this year,鈥� said Hoolaeff. 鈥淭he Rib Valet service means people can sit and enjoy their beverages while someone else stands in line, and this year the Rib Valet service will be offering more of the most popular menu items from the ribbers.鈥�
Four professional ribbers will be at RibFest this year 鈥� Gator BBQ, Misty Mountain, Boss Hog鈥檚, and Smoke and Bones. As well, Save-On-Foods is providing corn on the cob and for those who don鈥檛 like barbecued meat, one of the big hits of last year鈥檚 event is back.
鈥淏ogner鈥檚 of Penticton came last year to provide vegetarian options and they were a big hit,鈥� said Hoolaeff.
Another big hit last year was the Cantex Kid Zone, and the free family fun continues this year as well. Packed with Penticton favourites and out-of-town headliners, the entertainment starts at noon Friday and runs all weekend.
Friday鈥檚 headliner, taking the stage at 6:45 p.m., is Blackberry and the Circus Sideshow, an incredible event known as the Caravan of Creeps and incorporating sword-swallowing, fire-breathing and dancing into their musical act.
Saturday sees the ever-popular Roland Allen Rock Trio from Penticton return to the Windward Software Stage at 7:30 p.m. with classic and contemporary rock. Following the Roland Allen Rock Trio stay in the park for the best seats for watching the Canada Day fireworks sponsored by Ellis-Don Construction.
On Sunday, enjoy the sweet country song stylings of for Canadian Idol finalist Jaydee Bixby at 6:45 p.m. Bixby has opened for country icons like Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney and cracked the top 10 Canadian Albums Chart with his debut disc, Cowboys and Cadillacs.
Don鈥檛 forget to vote for your favourite ribber. Text your favourite ribber鈥檚 name to 1-778-200-RIBS (7427).
The Rotary Club of Penticton RibFest takes place June 30 (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.), July 1 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and July 2 (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at Okanagan Lake Park.
