The Rotary Club of Scarborough is returning to Thomson Memorial Park for its 13th annual Ribfest from Friday, Aug. 1 to Monday, Aug. 4.
This year, people will be enjoying delicious barbecue from 11 different ribbers from all across North America, including last year’s choice award winners Texas Rangers, Bad Wolf, and Jack the Ribber.
Music will be playing throughout the weekend from the entertainment stage.
Every day, a children’s and adults’ karaoke competition will be held. Competition winners from each day will go on to compete at Monday’s competition final for a chance to win a trophy and prize.
Other featured entertainment will include Tom Hayes and the Twisters, Good Brothers, Destiny International and the Back Track Band. Rob MacArthur is this year’s Ribfest DJ and sound engineer.
Midways will also be set up throughout the weekend with popular carnival rides and games for the whole family.
The Scarborough Rotary Ribfest attracts over 140,000 people each year, making the event the Rotary Club’s largest fundraising event of the year.
“We do a lot of Scarborough projects,” said Donna Worden, member of the Rotary Club’s ribfest committee.
“The money that’s raised mostly goes back to the community. A lot of people ask us for help and that’s when we would spring into action.”
Money raised this weekend will help support the numerous community projects that the club runs, like assisting low-income families during Christmas, the Dictionary Project and the Paul Harris Scholarships.
The funds will also support a number of international projects coordinated through Rotary International.
Polio Plus is a major project led by Rotary International to fight polio endemics in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
The Scarborough Rotary Ribfest runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3. On Monday, Aug. 4, the ribfest will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thomson Memorial Park is located at 1005 Brimley Rd., north of Lawrence Avenue East.
For more details, visit www.scarboroughribfest.com.