After a one-year hiatus, the Bowmanville Ribfest is back and ready to serve up three days of mouthwatering barbecue and family fun at the Rickard Recreation Complex grounds this weekend.
The Bowmanville Rotary Club has been hosting the popular outdoor festival for more than 15 years but was forced to cancel last year due to construction at its former home at Clarington Fields. Work on the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre on the old festival grounds prompted organizers to find a new location, and the Rickard Complex on Highway 2 in Bowmanville stepped up to host.
The event runs from Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14, and promises all the favourites that Durham Region barbecue lovers have been missing. Live music, carnival rides, family activities, and plenty of ribbers will be on hand to satisfy every craving.
Whether you are craving ribs, pulled pork, brisket, or all of the above, the Rotary Club says they have every base covered. The festival was formerly known as Rockin’ Ribs and Brews, and this year’s return to the Rickard Complex is a homecoming of sorts, as the venue hosted the first-ever Bowmanville Ribfest more than 15 years ago.
The return of the Bowmanville Ribfest is especially welcome news considering the challenges facing summer festivals across Durham Region. The Oshawa Ribfest, which had been a staple summer event at the city’s waterfront since 2002 and attracted 30,000 hungry visitors each year, was cancelled again this year. Organizers said they are hitting pause until the time is right to return, citing rising expenses for infrastructure, security, logistics, and supplies along with sponsorship challenges.
A special initiative at this year’s Bowmanville Ribfest will be a call for macaroni and cheese donations to support a youth-led Canada Day event aiming to set a Guinness World Record while supporting Feed the Need Durham.
The Seeds of Hope Knock Down Hunger Challenge will be one of the featured attractions at Clarington’s Canada Day Celebration at the complex. Ribfest organizers are encouraging patrons to bring boxes of mac and cheese to help topple the current world record of 11,936 boxes.
Schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, neighbourhood groups, and residents across Durham Region will help collect enough boxes to set the new record. All boxes collected will be donated to Feed the Need Durham after the Canada Day event to help ensure no child goes hungry over the summer months when school food programs are not available.
Nancy LeBlanc, organizer of the Knock Down Hunger Challenge, said every box represents a meal that will help a family in the community. The initiative is not simply about chasing a world record but creating a movement led by young people who want to make a difference.
Admission for the Bowmanville Ribfest is just $2 per person or $5 for a family, making it an affordable weekend outing for Durham Region residents looking to kick off the summer season with great food and community spirit.
