Jack Struck was feeling happy Sunday.
The sun was shining on the final day of Sarnia Kinsmen Ribfest, a long-running community event that had returned to Centennial Park after being canceled by the pandemic in 2020 and moved to a drive-in event in 2021.
“It has just been a fantastic weekend,” said Struck, co-chairperson of the 23rd version of the Sarnia Kinsmen Club fundraiser.
“I’m sure glad to be back here,” he said in the park as Sunday’s Father’s Day crowd was building in the early afternoon.
“The crowds have been great – the music has been great,” Struck said. “We can’t be any happy.”
Ribfest opened before noon Friday and continued through the weekend. Admission was free during the day and tickets were sold for Friday and Saturday evenings when bands joined the four “ribbers” in the park, along with other food vendors and artisan booths.
“The ribbers can’t get over the length of the lines,” Struck said. “People have to wait a bit longer but it just takes a bit of time to cook things.”
Prizes were announced Sunday following judging of entries from the ribbers.
Jack the Ribber received first place overall and the people’s choice award.
Silver Bullet won the best ribs award and the best chicken prize went to Route 55 BBQ.
Smokehouse Bandits won the best sauce award.
“Everybody got something,” Struck said.
Typically, Sarnia’s in-person Ribfests have drawn crowds estimated at about 15,000.
Organizers had to contend with high winds Friday evening that caused issues with fences around the park and blew down some artisan tents, Struck said.
Ribfest is one of the events the service club relies on to raise money so it can support more than 30 local charities and programs.
Struck said he’s hopeful this year’s Ribfest will make some money for the club but added inflation has made staging the event more expensive.
“This year it has more than doubled the costs of everything,” he said.
But, Struck added, “We’re happy and we’ll be back next year.”