Legendary bbq masters come to Whitby as ribfest returns
Published July 8, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Six ribber food trucks and dozens of vendors have filled Iroquois Sports Park for the long awaited return of Whitby Ribfest.
Each year the park welcomes 50,000 people over the weekend to Whitby’s largest outdoor event. The local Rotary Club and more than 125 volunteers organize have a dozen food trucks, numerous musical performances and tons of vendors for their marketplace.
The ribs themselves are supplied by some well-known names in the BBQ world from across North America. The first such BBQ master is Uncle Sam’s, founded in New Mexico in 1998. “We use nothing but the best and freshest ingredients, and smoke only with cherry wood to get our signature taste,” they said.
Next there’s the Sticky Fingers BBQ company. Originally founded in Motley, Texas these grillers are now based out of Zorra Township, Ontario. They’ve spent the last eight years on the Canadian Circuit and have won several awards in that time.
Third is Billy Bones, an outfit founded in 1976. According to them, “Legend has it that Billy Bones Barbeque learned to cook at the side of an ol’ gentleman on Central Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1966.” They’ve gone onto tour Canada, Ireland and Jamaica and every State in the Union.
Another booth features Guelph Ontario’s Silver Bullet Bar B Q. Using recipes from the heart of Texas this team of BBQ enthusiasts said they’ve been grilling since childhood, with “the scars to prove it.
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The next company, Camp 31, was founded in Alabama in 1985. Named for a general store dating to 1908, Camp 31 has been touring across North America since, with help from the local police they entered their first cook off in Pensacola, Florida.
Last, but certainly not least, is HaWGs gone WILD BBQ TEAM. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida. They’ve toured the BBQ circuit for the last ten years winning 100 awards in the meantime.
In addition to some of the best grillers this side of the Atlantic, the Whitby Ribfest is set to feature numerous local musicians including;
- Samurai Fly
- Recovery Mode
- Highland Creek Pipe Band
- Dylan Burk
- The Almost Hip
- PBX
- Steele
- Two for the Show
- Matt Doran
- The Covers
- Backstage Pass Band, and
- Lonely Hearts
These acts will perform throughout the weekends with each day featuring unique performances. A full list of show times is available on the Ribfest website.
Ribfest also features numerous vendors in a Marketplace.
The festival runs all weekend starting Friday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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