Popular ribfest returns after one-year absence in Ontario

After one year away, the Bowmanville Ribfest is back, with three days of mouthwatering barbecue and festival vibes coming to the Rickard Recreation Complex grounds this weekend.

The Bowmanville Rotary Club has been hosting the annual event – a popular outdoor festival with live music, carnival rides, family activities and plenty of ribbers – for more than 15 years but had to cancel last year because of construction at its former home at Clarington Fields.

Work on the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre on the festival grounds forced organizers to find a new home for the event – formerly known as Rockin’ Ribs and Brews -and finding a willing host at the Ricard Complex on Highway 2 in Bowmanville.

The event runs from Friday, June 12 to Sunday June 14.

“Whether you’re craving ribs, pulled pork, brisket, or all of the above, we’ve got you covered,” the Rotary Club said on their socials. “Who’s coming hungry?”

The return of Ribfest in Bowmanville is especially encouraging considering so many festivals have never recovered from the pandemic, including the Oshawa Ribfest, which has been a staple summer event at the city’s waterfront since 2002. Durham Region’s longest-running ribfest, which attracts 30,000 hungry visitors each year, was cancelled this year, with organizers hitting pause until the “time is right” to return, with expenses for infrastructure, security, logistics and supplies and sponsorship challenges all cited.

A special initiative at Bowmanville Ribfest this year will be a call for macaroni and cheese for a youth-led Canada Day event which hopes to topple nearly 20,000 boxes of mac ‘n cheese and set a Guinness record while supporting Feed the Need Durham.

The Seeds of Hope Knock Down Hunger Challenge will be one of the featured attractions at Clarington’s Canada Day Celebration at the complex and rib fest organizers are encouraging patrons to contribute to the cause this weekend.

The current world record is 11,936 boxes.

Schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, neighbourhood groups and residents across Durham will help collect enough boxes of macaroni & and cheese to set the record, with all boxes collected donated to Feed the Need Durham after the Canada Day event.

“What makes this challenge special is that every box represents a meal that will help a family in our community,” said Nancy LeBlanc, organizer of the Knock Down Hunger Challenge. “We’re not simply chasing a world record – we’re creating a movement led by young people who want to make a difference. Our main reason for doing this is to make sure no child goes hungry over the summer months when school food programs are not available.”

Admission for the Bowmanville Ribfest is $2 per person or $5 for a family.