Ribfest is back at Chatham's Tecumseh Park this weekend with booths to please the hungriest of carnivores and even vegans.
Ribfest is the largest annual barbecue and festival that comes to Chatham-Kent, featuring live-music, carnival rides, and food vendors.
Organizer Doug Hillier is excited for the warm weather and fun.
"I think this year is going to be our year that is completely dry and we're going to have such a great line of entertainment. I think some people will be coming not one day but maybe several days because we have a lineup of music and fun for all three days of the festival," says Hillier.
Hillier says, in the past, Rib festivals have been targeted by groups of vegan protesters offended by the large displays of meat. This year, the protesters are now welcomed inside the festival to spread their message and even sell their own vegan food at a booth.
"We have the protesters now actually joined together to make a positive message and they're coming to Chatham to sell their vegan big mac," he says. "Now, they're in every Ribfest they can go into because they realize there are vegans and there are vegetarians who come to the event."
Chatham-Kent Ribfest will be held at Tecumseh Park Friday 11am to 11pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm.
For a full list of vendors and bands, visit the festival's website.