Ribfest Rivalry Heats Up

After letting Kamloops shine on the Ribfest spotlight for the past five years, Kelowna has finally stepped in to make its mark in the Ribfest game.

On its opening night, around 6,000 people showed up to take in all that Ribfest had to offer (that’s more than a Blazers game has ever seen).

All joking aside, Ribfest was a great way to fill the bellies of hungry meatatarians and the hearts of local charities.

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Four of Canada’s most awarded ribbers were onsite at 2016 Ribfest, and not only did they bring some killer bbq skills, they brought some hilarious, upbeat characters as well.

Two ribbers drew a particularly large crowd and we aren’t sure if it’s because of the delicious aroma coming from their trucks or their infectious attitude.

Gator BBQ regularly had a crowd of people watching as the two grill cooks were constantly boogying while barbecuing.

With a few ‘Best Ribs’ banners hanging proudly off their truck, we just had to ask what they think the secret is to making the best rack of ribs. Gator crew members said they use the “Low and Slow” method to make sure the meat stays tender, one of the most important components to barbequing the perfect rack of ribs.

Ontario ribbers the Boss Hogs, put on their own little show as well. Whether the cooks were juggling their tongs, singing along to their classic rock jams or just hootin’ and hollerin’, you couldn’t help but head over to see what all the fuss was about.

After winning more awards in the past year than any other Canadian ribber, we just had to know their secret to dominating the rib game: “It takes passion, pride and you have to love what you do and represent who you work for,” said one of the Boss Hogs grill cooks.

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Smoke & Bones from North Vancouver gave rib lovers a unique experience and some delicious food. All of their barbequed goods were cooked over a woodfire and specialty coals, giving attendees' tastebuds a real treat.

While this was a festival for Ribs, Blazin’ Barbeque may have stolen the show with their massive pulled pork sandwich, which had the perfect ratio of mouth watering goodness and messiness.

Photography from KelownaNow.com

After people waited in line to get their hands on some of the festivals delicacies, they could head to the beverage gardens near the mainstage to enjoy their tasty ribs, a cold beer, and some great head-banging tunes.

If you didn’t think that Ribfest could get any better, you were mistaken. All of the net proceeds from the event will be going to local humanitarian programs like the Shoe Bank of Canada, thanks to the involvement of the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary.

This was an event for the whole family, with a kid zone (equipped with awesome bouncy castles), a family beverage garden so parents could enjoy a cold one with dinner, and even some vegetarian options.

Ribfest 2016 took Kelowna by storm, bringing in thousands of people each day. Will this tasty event return in 2017? We sure hope so!