Canada's Largest Ribfest

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Canada's Largest Ribfest
Burlingtonrotaryribfest.jpg
The logo of Canada's Largest Ribfest
Begins06 September 2021
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Spencer Smith Park,
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated1996
Participantsapprox. 175,000
Website http://www.canadaslargestribfest.com/

Canada's Largest Ribfest is the name of an annual ribfest food festival held in Spencer Smith Park by the lake shore in Burlington, Ontario. [1] The Burlington Lakeshore Rotary Club organizes the four-day-long Ribfest to raise money for charity [2] during the Labour Day weekend.

Contents

History

``Canada`s Largest Ribfest`` Ribfest1.jpg
``Canada`s Largest Ribfest``

The Burlington Lakeshore Rotary Club held the first Ribfest in 1996, then simply called the Ribfest.

By 2001, the festival had expanded to include ribs from 12 traveling rib teams. [3]

The 2004 festival anticipated about 150,000 people eating 36 tonnes of ribs. It was called the Maple Leaf Pork Rotary Ribfest that year. [4]

In early 2009, the Burlington Ribfest rebranded itself as "Canada's Largest Ribfest"—with its logo redesigned by Little Green Tree. [5] In September, 175,000 people and 18 rib teams attended the 14th annual Canada's Largest Ribfest, consuming 150,000 lbs of ribs over the weekend. [6] [7] An estimated $320,000 was raised for local charities.

In 2010, the Canadian Federal government provided Can$98,610 in funding for the Ribfest as part of a Can$100 million Marquee Tourism Events Program fund. [7] [8] [9]

2020, 2021 and 2022 saw drive-thru Ribfests due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Economic impact

Some of the Ribbers and crowd, 2008 Ribfest2.jpg
Some of the Ribbers and crowd, 2008

In 2003, an economic study was conducted on "Canada's Largest Ribfest." It found that almost 50% of visitors to the Ribfest come from outside Burlington. About 100% of those who came to the Ribfest would recommend it to out-of-town friends and/or relatives. About 69% said they would attend in 2007. About $1.8 million is being spent in the region by consumers. [10]

Charitable fundraising

Some of the Ribbers and crowd, 2008 Ribfest3.jpg
Some of the Ribbers and crowd, 2008

The Ribfest's funds are split to local organizations, business, and hospitals.

This is some of them:

See also

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References

  1. "Burlington est un bijou à découvrir dans le Centre-Sud Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine ." Bonjour Ontario. May 19, 2010.
  2. "Festivals and federal funds. National Post. May 11, 2010
  3. "A finger-lickin' Ribfest ; Ribbing teams from U.S. and Canada compete on Ontario's summer festival circuit". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Sep 5, 2001
  4. Burman, John "Burlington expects 150,000 to chow down at RibFest." The Spectator - Hamilton, Ont. Aug 31, 2004.
  5. Burlington Ribfest Identity Redevelopment
  6. Canadian stimulus package funding gigantic ribfest?! . Weightymatters.ca May 18, 2010
  7. 1 2 Fricker, Peter. "Federal funding program has soft spot for rodeos." Vancouver Sun. May 25, 2010
  8. "Contributions et bénéficiaires (2010) Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine ." Industrie Canada.
  9. Chouinard, Marie-Andrée. "Financement des festivals - La boîte à surprises." Le Devoir. 15 May 2010
  10. 2009 Sponsorship & Advertising Program Archived 2010-09-18 at the Wayback Machine . CanadasLargestRibfest.com.

43°19′18″N79°47′54″W / 43.3218°N 79.7982°W / 43.3218; -79.7982