The spirit of Ribfest

Well, Ribfest weekend is here…and while it may be a little bit, um, different this year, we hope you will join in the fun!

For our family, Waterdown’s Oh Canada Ribfest represents the best of our community. Typically, we hang out with people we don’t see at any other time of the year in the park during the Canada Day weekend festivities. We also treat ourselves to foods we don’t eat at any other time of year, and we listen to a lot of really fun music from a great line up of bands – all within walking distance of our home.

Finally, we volunteer and donate to Rotary during Ribfest, which is both a community project and a fund raiser for the two local clubs, Waterdown and Flamborough AM. This is important because when you donate to Rotary, you not only ensure Ribfest continues, you support things like education and literacy (Did you know Rotary provides earn awards and bursaries to local students?), food programs (Flamborough Food Bank, Food With Grace, Food 4 Kids), health and wellness (clean water projects in developing countries, eradicating Polio) youth initiatives, seniors….there are too many to list here, but you get the idea.

That’s why we were beyond thrilled when 9 local restaurants stepped up to help us keep the spirit of Ribfest alive with a virtual event. Each created a special offer, with a $5 donation to Ribfest included in the price. We hope you and your family will enjoy the food – and enjoy supporting community-minded businesses that are still struggling to find a foothold in the “new normal."

And while we won’t be greeting you at the Memorial Park gates this year with a cheery “Welcome to Ribfest!” as we ask for a donation, we also hope you will consider clicking the “Donate Now” button above, and making an e-Transfer contribution.

Wait, what about the music? Well, our Facebook Live Ribfest concert promises to deliver the sounds we love….right to your home. Be sure to stream it from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 to hear performances by festival favourites such as IN2U, Rob Hails, Glenn Groves, Jessie T, Ty Baynton, Laurel & Hulley, Dark Horse and Mike Woods.

So, log on, connect with the folks you usually see in the park, and enjoy!

#summer #livemusic #RotaryClub #donations