Event provides food and fun for the whole family while raising money for cancer patients and survivors
Faces were covered with sauce; music flowed off the stage, and the intoxicating scent of barbeque filled the air. Ribfest had begun.
Hundreds of people attended the festival over three days. The festivities included a stage for musicians, a children’s area funded by the Rotary Club, many small vendors, and of course, the ribs.
The children’s area had many amenities, including a laser tag arena and bouncy castles. Many musicians performed, such as Beauty and the Beats, The Dooryard Drifters, and Mechta.
Vendors included Ketchup and Bite Me, Elm St. Treats, Rivers Edge Lemonade, Jolly Rancher Slush, Cymbal Town Wood Fired Pizzas, and more. The Ribbers present were Fat Boys Barbecue and Mississippi Smokehouse.
The event took place on July 21 to July 23. All proceeds go to three charities that support those who have cancer. The River Valley Cancer Support Group, which financially supports cancer patients, will receive some of the proceeds. The second charity to benefit from the event is the Living Beyond Cancer Peer Support Group, which allows cancer survivors to speak about their experiences with others. Lastly, the John T McMillin JR. Memorial Foundation will also get financial support. That organization supports cancer research.
Volunteer Line Lutwick, a cancer survivor’s husband, says when you eat at Ribfest, “You support a good cause.”
“The value of what people get here is truly unique,” says organizer Scott Dunlop referring to the quality of the food, entertainment, and the causes it supports.
Approximately 30 volunteers participate yearly in helping Ribfest become a reality.
Last year, Ribfest raised $56,000. Organizers hope to have even more to contribute to chosen charities this year.
