Elgin Ribfest returns this weekend, with five vendors ready to showcase their award-winning ribs and other barbecue specialties.
The three-day food fest — once known as the Elgin Brewfest — has been a 19-year tradition attracting an average of 5,000 to 6,000 attendees daily over the three days it’s held at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave. Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
This year, the rib vendors are After Hours BBQ, from Orrville, Ohio; Bg’s Main Event, from Rittman, Ohio; Salt Creek BBQ, from Glendale Heights; Aussom Aussie, from Pittsburgh; and Off the Bone BBQ, from Mobile, Ala. Elgin’s own Simply Crispy and Yorkville-based Little Jimmy’s Italian Ices are the two non-rib vendors, selling items like wontons, italian ice, pretzels and nachos.
New to this year’s festivities is a kids zone, the singing competition “Elgin Idol” Saturday afternoon, and a rib competition with multiple categories.
Friday’s headlining band, Hillbilly Rockstarz, will hold a CD release party of their new release, “Feels Like Home.” They are scheduled to perform from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s headliner 7th Heaven will perform from 9 to 11 p.m. Sunday’s headliner will be Mana tribute band Revolucion de Amor, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Other musical acts will perform all weekend.
Just in Time Staffing and Sure Staff will also be on hand to conduct job fairs. Just in Time will hold theirs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday while Sure Staff will be at Ribfest from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
An arts and crafts fair will be held all weekend and a BGV Motorsports Car Show will be presented from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 10 get in for free with a paying adult. Admission is free for everyone between 11 a.m. and noon Sunday. Police officers, firefighters and active military personnel can enter for free at any time.
A portion of proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, the Marklund Wasmond Center at Little Angels and the Ecker Center for Mental Health in Elgin.