CORNWALL, Ontario – Cornwall Ribfest, the city’s biggest four-day barbeque festival, attracted attendees from across the region from Thursday, July 26 to Sunday, July 29.
“It is the biggest event of the summer for Cornwall,” said Julia Lucio, Media Coordinator for Cornwall Ribfest.
“I think we would have expectations of somewhere between 50,000 to 80,000 (attendees),” said Terry Muir, Co-Chair of Cornwall Ribfest.
This year, Cornwall Ribfest featured a plethora of food vendors, including award winning ribs.
“Of course we have the ribs, and there’s a ton of other food vendors as well,” said Julia. “There’s corn, there’s beavertails, there’s hamburgers and hotdogs for those who don’t like ribs. There’s blooming onions, which are totally to die for. Anyways, all sorts of goodies; there’s a little bit of something for everyone.”
Families could enjoy an assortment of games, inflatable structures and a midway, which cost riders $30 a day for unlimited rides. Free, live entertainment included local artists and headliners like Carl Dixon of The Guess Who. There was also a beer garden that featured an assortment of brand name beverages.
Event organizers believe that funds raised will surpass last year’s earnings of $70,000. All of the money will be donated to youth services in the city through the Optimist Club of Cornwall.
“The reason we do this is the Optimist Club of Cornwall, we raise money for the youth of Cornwall,” said John Lucio, Co-Chair of Cornwall Ribfest. “This club is 100 per cent volunteer and 100 per cent charity, so all of that money goes back into the community to help the youths of this organization.”
The Optimist Club of Cornwall runs a softball league and hockey league, supports the Christmas toy drive and parade, and hosts numerous other events in the community.
Event organizers would like to thank all of the Cornwall Ribfest sponsors, team members and volunteers for making the event a success.
“This is a team effort, and every member of this team is phenomenal,” said John.
A group of vegetarian and vegan protestors appeared at Ribfest on Saturday, July 28. But there presence didn’t bother event organizers.
“It’s a free country,” said Julia. “They didn’t bother us, we didn’t bother them. That’s the beauty of Canada.”
“The Cornwall Ribfest is not just meat,” added John. “We have other food items that you can eat. Go to The Mighty Cob, they have some amazing sweetcorn. The Blooming Onion is fantastic.”
John heard from attendees that they consider Cornwall Ribfest the best Ribfest in the region.
“It’s hard to say there’s 80,000 or 100,000 (attendees) because there’s not even that many in Cornwall. However…at the end we have survey takers finding out where people are coming from. We see them coming from New York, Montreal, Brockville, Ottawa, Kingston…all over,” said John.
