What is the Esquimalt Ribfest about?
We are all about family, community, volunteers, kids, participation, and fun!
A weekend of BBQ ribs, local entertainment, craft beer, cider and wine, free kid’s activities, local arts, and vendors. With these ingredients, we put together Esquimalt Ribfest for a weekend of the best ribs in the country, amazing local entertainment, delicious beer and cider from local craft brewers, free kid’s games, local arts, and vendors, for guaranteed family fun.
Outside operating costs, all proceeds are funnelled back into the community through the Esquimalt Firefighter’s Charitable Foundation. Proceeds go to local charities and school-sponsored activities for our community’s youth.
Esquimalt Ribfest has six professional rib teams that compete to win the coveted People’s Choice. Live music by our best local bands, craft brews, wine, and cider. Free children’s crafts and activities.
• We are community • We are family • We are volunteers
Our Story
Tom Woods, the head of the Esquimalt Ribfest, was asked to reflect on the past 10 years of this event and share his thoughts –
“Like any potential charitable fundraising idea, the first couple of years are always a bit of an unknown. Questions like: Will there be public buy-in? How much will it cost to put on? Will we make or lose money? Will it be fun and family-friendly?
Will anyone even show up? Well, as we enter year eleven with Esquimalt Ribfest, we can honestly say that each one of
these questions has been answered positively and in spades.
It all started with a rugby connection when the grandson of Rugby Canada Hall of Fame Coach Tillman Briggs – Penner – contacted me about possibly hosting a charity fundraiser called Ribfest in Esquimalt. I had never heard of Ribfest, but a quick Google search showed how popular they were in Ontario, and that the Burlington Rotary Club alone had raised significant amounts of money for charity.
Phone calls and arm-twisting for an ad hoc volunteer committee ensued and Esquimalt Ribfest was launched in September, 2013.
We are proud to say that the event is now among the best attended and most profitable in Canada.
The Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation in conjunction with the Esquimalt Ribfest Society and 7 local non-profit groups has raised over $1.0M for local charities in the past 10 years. The Fire Fighters Foundation has distributed $450,000 to over 40 local groups and the Ribfest Society has generated $420,000 of which $360,000 has been donated to Esquimalt High Schools Turf Fund. This would not have happened without generous contributions from sponsors or the tremendous support from thousands of our Ribfest patrons.
The organizing committee is excited to host this year’s event on September 6th, 7th and 8th at Bullen Park in Esquimalt and they look forward to having an even greater impact on charities in the community. The six big-rig BBQ companies and 8 local craft brewers are ready to go. They will be joined by over 20 other charitable and commercial vendors for this three-day event. 20 local bands are committed for the entertainment along with Fleetwood Magic from Vancouver on Friday Night and Juno Award Winner Jack Semple and the Horn Dogs for Saturday Night.
Admission is free or by donation to the Esquimalt Fire Fighters’ Charitable Foundation,
we look forward to seeing everyone at Ribfest.
Tom Woods
Esquimalt Ribfest Committee Chair