Canada's Largest Ribfest

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.

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

History

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``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

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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

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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

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  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. ^ a b 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.
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43°19′18″N 79°47′54″W / 43.3218°N 79.7982°W / 43.3218; -79.7982