Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Guerilla Q was one of the meat vendors at last year's 2023 Ribfest festival at Vedder Park. Ribfest returns this summer Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28, thanks, in part, to a $15,000 festival grant from the B.C. government. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Ribfest returns to Chilliwack

Ribfest, partly funded by the B.C. government, returns to Chilliwack this summer

Jun 3, 2024 | 3:41 PM

CHILLIWACK — Ribfest, the wildly popular meat festival that drew tens of thousands of area residents to Vedder Park for its debut last year, is back for another year of mouth-watering, barbecued pork, beef and more.

Organizers say Canada’s best ribbers will return to Chilliwack following last year’s smashing success. This year’s bigger, bolder and saucier sequel happens Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28.

The taste of “coast-to-coast” greatness gets underway Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by an all-day feast from 11-10 Saturday, and 11-9 Sunday.

The event features popular vendors such as Boss Hogs BBQ, Prairie Smoke & Spice, Guerilla Q, Smoke Dem Bones, and Gator BBQ. Trevor McDonald will provide main stage entertainment. Carnivores can wash it all down with a cold one thanks to frosty beers from local breweries and Event Pour Co.

The festivities also feature eight of B.C.’s favourite food trucks and a B.C. Shop Local artisan market, all in partnership with Johnstons Pork and the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

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Organizers hope meat eaters come hungry and bring their friends. Visit https://chilliwackribfest.ca/ to order your tickets (by donation) for you and your family today.

Ribfest is made possible, in part, by a $15,000 funding grant from the B.C. government.

According to a news release from the provincial government dated Thursday, May 9, festivals in Chilliwack were set to receive thousands in funding from the provincial government to support seasonal events throughout the province.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Customers line up at a BBQ vendor at Vedder Park in July 2023 during last year’s Ribfest event.

The B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events fund helps community event organizations to recover from ongoing challenges related to cost increases, reduced revenue and sponsorships, rising costs of equipment and services, and severe weather events.

The BCFFE Fund provides up to about 20 per cent of an event’s total budget, up to a maximum of $250,000 per event, with a minimum budget of at least $10,000. All decisions from the funding group are final and cannot be appealed. Applications were due February 25, 2024.

Chilliwack’s biggest summer extravaganza, the 3-day Chilliwack Fair, naturally received the biggest funding allocation of $37,400, followed by $17,300 for the Family Christmas Train & Lighting event at Greendale Acres.

The 2023 RibFest event in Chilliwack drew thousands of people to Vedder Park down by the river. It received $15,000 from the provincial government.

Other Chilliwack non-profits receiving funding from the B.C. government for festivals include the Chilliwack Mural Festival ($13,400), Chilliwack Independent Film Festival ($12,800), Chilliwack Pride ($4,100), Brewhalla ($9,900), Chilliwack Independent Film Festival ($12,800), Loop the Vedder Trail Half Marathon ($2,800), Monty Python’s Spamalot ($2,300), Provincial Mainstage ($4,500), Sweet Spring Festival & Baby Animal Festival at Greendale Acres ($10,500), Thursty Elk & Trail Run ($2,000), UFV Take Over Festival ($2,000), and Yarrow Days ($2,000).