Red Deerians can fill their plate with ribs, chicken, brisket and more at Red Deer Ribfest this weekend.

The second annual Ribfest officially began Friday afternoon and wraps up Sunday at Rotary Recreation Park, next to the white tennis dome across the street from Servus Arena.

Les Gagne, festival director, said the first two years are building a foundation for larger Ribfests in the future.

“You’ll see more of an expansion in year three,” he said. “Now that we have a solid footing and there’s a clear market for this, people will start to see a bigger Ribfest.”

Ribfest events have been held in Ontario for more than 25 years. Gagne said it was just a matter of time before the event came to Alberta.

“We’ve always sort of joked Alberta is the capital of meat eating in this country and now we’re here. I think people are really starting to appreciate the opportunity that is Ribfest and the experience it offers to (families) and everyone,” he said.

There are five different “ribbers” to buy food from at the event.

About 17,000 people attended the three-day event last year. Gagne said he hopes more than 20,000 come this year.

“Our main goal is just to create a fun experience for the people who come,” he said. “It’s a chance for us to bring something really cool in terms of food experience and feature some of the local musicians on the Big Sticky Stage and create a community experience people haven’t seen before in Red Deer.”

Ribfest is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday – bands will perform live throughout most of the weekend.

For more information on the event, visit www.reddeerribfest.ca.



sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com

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Red Deer Coun. Dianne Wyntjes and Luke van Barneveld with Billy’s BBQ each hold up a rack of ribs at Red Deer Ribfest at Rotary Recreation Park Friday. (Photo by SEAN MCINTOSH/Advocate staff)