The Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium is putting out an urgent call for volunteers ahead of the 28th annual Guelph Ribfest, set for August 28 to 30 at Riverside Park in Guelph, Ontario. Organizers need more than 400 people to help run the event, which draws up to 50,000 visitors each year and is entirely volunteer-driven.
Co-chairs Dan O’Donnell and Suzanna Geerlinks say that without enough community support, the festival could face serious challenges. Volunteer roles include site setup and tear-down, cleaning crews, greeters, parking attendants, park runners, and Smart Serve-certified bartenders and drink ticket-sellers. High school students can also earn volunteer hours by helping out.
Since it started in 1998, Ribfest has raised over $1.2 million for local charities and community groups. Past beneficiaries include the Guelph Food Bank, Hospice Wellington, Kids Ability, Hope House, and many others. In 2024, the event set an attendance record with 59,000 people, but volunteer shortages have nearly cancelled the festival before, including a close call in 2023.
Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up at ribfestguelph.com. Organizers stress that every shift filled helps keep Guelph’s biggest summer event running and supports the local organizations that rely on the funds raised.
