Ribfest serves up another busy weekend in Fort St. John

The smell of barbecue took over Centennial Park for three days over the weekend, as Rotary Ribfest returned to Fort St. John with plenty of ribs, live music and people making their way through the park.

Presented by Surerus, the annual fundraising event ran from July 10 to 12, bringing three rib vendors to town alongside food trucks, local entertainment and several community groups helping throughout the weekend.

Mayor Lilia Hansen was among those who stopped by Ribfest, saying the live entertainment helped draw people into Centennial Park and added to the atmosphere around the event.

“I couldn’t resist wandering over when I heard Jeff ‘Elvis’ Bodner belting out great tunes - the music truly pulled me in,” Hansen wrote.

Billy Bones BBQ, Buckeye BBQ and Blazin' BBQ handled the ribs this year, giving people three different places to line up and probably more than enough reasons to make another trip through the park.

Anyone who was still hungry had plenty of other options, including mini donuts, roasted corn, blooming onions, deep-fried food, pizza cones and pie from the Fort St. John North Peace Museum tent.

“There’s also plenty of food and drink options to purchase and enjoy: delicious ribs and other items from food trucks, pie at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum tent, a beer garden hosted by our local Curling Club, and a fantastic community atmosphere all around,” Hansen wrote online.

Three days of free live entertainment gave people another reason to stick around after finding something to eat, with performers from around the North Peace taking the stage throughout the weekend.

Families could also make use of the spray park and playground equipment nearby, giving parents a chance to spend some time at Ribfest without having to keep the kids sitting still all afternoon.

“There’s lots to do for families too: splash in the Spray Park, enjoy the playground equipment, and soak up the summer vibes while taking in the entertainment,” Hansen added.

After the first day, organizers thanked everyone who came through the park, saying community participation is what continues to make the annual fundraising event a success.

“Your participation is what makes this annual fundraising event a tremendous success,” organizers wrote.

Ribfest gives people an excuse to get together, listen to some local music and eat more barbecue than they probably planned on, but the money raised also helps Rotary support community initiatives.

There are only so many weekends before the jackets come back out around here, and seeing families, businesses, volunteers and community groups all using the park together is always worth recognizing.

And if you went back for ribs more than once, I don’t think anyone around here is going to hold it against you.