The 17th Annual Orangeville Rotary Ribfest kicks off this Friday, July 17, 2026, bringing three days of barbecue, live music, and family fun to the Alder Street Recreation Centre in Orangeville, Ontario. Gates open at 4 p.m. and admission is free, but donations are welcome. All money raised goes toward local causes, including the Rotary Park playground redevelopment.
Six ribbers will compete for top honors this year: Big Texas Barbeque, Boss Hog’s BBQ, Gator BBQ, Bubba Lou’s Bar-B-Q, Fatboys Southern Smokehouse, and Jack the Ribber. Last year’s winners are back to defend their titles, with Boss Hog’s BBQ taking Judges’ Choice Best Ribs, Bubba Lou’s Bar-B-Q winning Judges’ Choice Best Sauce, and Jack the Ribber earning the People’s Choice Award in 2025.
Saturday, July 18 will feature the Classic Car Show from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the soccer field next to Ribfest. Organizer David Murphy expects more than 100 classic cars, and vehicle entry is free. Sunday is all about families with Kidsfest running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering activities and entertainment just for kids.
The event runs Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Along with the ribs, there will be a beer tent, food vendors, and a lineup of live music on the main stage all weekend long.
Since starting in 2010, the Ribfest has grown into one of the region’s biggest community festivals. It now draws between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors each year and has raised more than $800,000 for local projects. The Rotary Club of Orangeville, chartered in 1937, organizes the event with the help of over 200 volunteers.
This year’s proceeds will continue funding the club’s $250,000 commitment to the Rotary Park playground redevelopment. So far, $116,666 has been donated toward that goal. The club is nearly halfway there, and Ribfest remains the main driver of those funds.
For more details on the schedule and rib teams, visit orangevilleribfest.com.
