The third version of the lip-smacking, mouth-watering, finger-licking Penticton Rotary RibFest kicked off in Okanagan Lake Park today.
ѻýItѻýs going to be a great weekend,ѻý says Penticton Rotary president and RibFest chair Barb Hoolaeff. ѻýWe packed 35,000 people into the park last year over four days and weѻýre expecting interest to be just as high this year.ѻý
Hoolaeff said there are plenty of great tweaks in store for the public for this yearѻýs event, from redesigned beverage gardens ѻý offering a better experience for adults and families ѻý to an expanded menu for the Rib Valet service.
ѻýOur Rib Valets will be offering a lot more variety this year,ѻý said Hoolaeff. ѻýThe 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.ѻý
Four professional ribbers will be at RibFest this year ѻý Gator BBQ, Misty Mountain, Boss Hogѻýs, and Smoke and Bones. As well, Save-On-Foods is providing corn on the cob and for those who donѻýt like barbecued meat, one of the big hits of last yearѻýs event is back.
ѻýBognerѻýs of Penticton came last year to provide vegetarian options and they were a big hit,ѻý 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.
Fridayѻýs 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.
Donѻýt forget to vote for your favourite ribber. Text your favourite ribberѻýs 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.