Stock up on napkins and gird your bellies; Port Moody’s annual RibFest is less than three days away.
The summer celebration of charred meat settles into Rocky Point Park beginning Friday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Similar hours are in effect for Saturday and Sunday as well.
Once inside the gates, visitors will have their choice of tenderized treats from seven ribbers that travel the summer barbecue circuit and compete to tantalize taste buds with their ribs, briskets, pulled porks and sauce-slathered chicken.
This year’s ribbers are:
- Boss Hog’s BBQ
- Gator BBQ
- Grizzly BBQ
- Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ
- Big Bubba Lou’s BBQ
- Smoke Dem Bones
- local favourite, Rusty’s BBQ, will be serving his championship offerings exclusively in the Club OpenRoad Lounge
The Meat2Eat food truck will also be in attendance with a variety of vegetarian and vegan offerings like organic falafel wraps, veggie burgers and tacos as well as a non-vegetarian kids’ menu.
While you’re licking the sticky sauce from your fingers, you’ll be entertained by a steady lineup of local musical acts ranging from a Tina Turner tribute band to the blues and country rock. A full lineup is available here.
There’s also a family zone with a climbing wall, a coding table, virtual reality station, crafts, parachute games, chess and even a sensory tents.
Admission to RibFest is by donation, with the funds going to support various programs championed by the Rotary Club of Port Moody’s community grant program that helps local organizations like the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society, Port Moody Soccer Club; Mossom Creek Hatcher and the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society as well as scholarships for students at Heritage Mountain and Port Moody secondary schools.
There's also a 50/50 draw with tickets available at the event as well as online. Currently the winning jackpot is approaching $5,000.
As parking at Rocky Point Park is limited, the best way to get to RibFest is by transit. The Moody Centre SkyTrain station is an 800-metre walk away.
For visitors with mobility challenges, extra parking spaces in the south lot at Rocky Point will be available to SPARC permit holders as well as special drop off and pick up areas in the roundabout.
@tricitynews BBQ Paradise. 🔥🥩🍗 #tricitynews #portmoody #ribfest #ribfest2023 #rockypointpark #bbq #bbqtiktok ♬ Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn
