Organizers with the newly combined Rims and Ribs Festival have announced changes and the schedule for this summer's weekend event and there won't be a classic car cruise.
Project Manager of The Historic Downtown Chatham BIA Connie Beneteau said there won't be a classic car cruise this year because Chatham-Kent police can't help with traffic control and patrols.
There was a fatal crash during the car cruise last summer on Queen’s Line at Dillon Road that killed two people.
"The Historic Downtown Chatham BIA is part of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the municipality's police services will not assist this year in cruises and I believe that's going to go across Chatham-Kent. So, without their assistance and being part of the municipality, we will not be facilitating a cruise this year," Beneteau said.
However, Beneteau said that all cars, regardless of whether they're classic (25 years or older) or not, will be able to participate in the Friday night car party, adding that all of the streets in downtown Chatham will be open on the Friday for the joint RetroFest and Ribfest this year. There will be a parking lot party from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. behind the Downtown Chatham Centre and Ribfest will be open 3-11 p.m.
Rims and Ribs will be held May 26-28, 2023.
On Saturday, all of the downtown streets will be closed for the usual car show between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Ribfest will be cooking all day in the park and will have carnival rides too.
Then on Sunday, the roads will all be open again except William Street between Murray and Stanley for the soap box derby from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ribfest and the rides will also run on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beneteau said the joint venture is being well received so far.
"Normally I bring 25,000 people downtown for a two day event and Ribfest brings a large similar amount but a different group of people. So, we're thinking this could bring down a huge amount of people and that always benefits the businesses," said Beneteau.
Rims and Ribs is set for this year only and organizers will consider bringing it back next summer, if the public likes it.