Tony from Kentucky Smokehouse at the Sarnia Ribfest. June 19, 2015 (photo by Jake Jeffrey blackburnnews.com)

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A longstanding mouth-watering Father’s Day weekend event in Sarnia has been cancelled this year.

After 17 years, there will be no Sarnia Kinsmen Club Ribfest at Hiawatha Horse Park in June.

No specific reason has been given.

A notice posted on Tourism Sarnia-Lambton’s website confirms Ribfest will not proceed this summer.

Spokesperson Vicky Praill says it’s disappointing. “We never want to see any event stop going, we always want new events to come and we want the existing events to continue,” says Praill. “Anytime there’s a cancellation obviously it hurts the community and is one less asset that we have.”

The event was a summer staple in Sarnia for the past 17 years, generating revenue for the Kinsmen Club’s community projects like the Sarnia Santa Claus Parade.

Ribfest was in danger of being cancelled last year due to a lack of major sponsors, and the Thursday portion was eliminated due to lack of attendance.

It’s not yet known whether the event will return next summer.