New name, new location for rib fest
The Area 506 Ribfest will be held June 14-16
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City barbecue lovers will notice a few changes to this year’s Saint John Rib Fest, not the least of which will be its name.
Now going by Area 506 Ribfest, the yearly carnivores’ favourite festival will take place from June 14-16 at the Container Village, which is set to open for the season on May 16.
It’s not an accident that this is the same location as the yearly 506 Music Festival. Spokesperson Mike Vokey told Brunswick News that organizers felt tying the rib festival in with the same location as the music festival would help ensure the cuisine-based event’s longevity going forward.
Organizers approached Saint John city council, asking if the city wanted to keep the barbecue festival around, and they were met with positive answers and a request for what council could do to help.
Vokey said council members suggested dates and locations, but organizers wanted to keep the June dates. The possibility of the Container Village as a locale came up and everyone was excited.
It will be the permanent home going forward for the Area 506 Rib fest.
“(The change) was about making sure it was sustainable for Saint John going forward,” Vokey explained. “We mentioned Container Village and council was excited by the idea, and everything just went well together, and we thought if we’re going to have a permanent home then people need to be able to find us.”
Plus, Container Village was perfect for them, he added, because it already has a stage setup and bleachers.
Vokey explained the model for the successful ribfests out there is a stable place, the same spot every year, and Saint John didn’t have that.
He said this year’s changes also include a new program, new people and new charity partners. Saint John Toyota is the events new title sponsor and the Make a Wish program is the new charity partner. He said he is hoping challenges of the past will be resolved going forward.
Like any event or charity across the country, finding help has been a challenge.
“Saint John was struggling with service clubs and volunteers and having trouble keeping them – we were struggling to get volunteers,” he said. “With an event like this you need not just volunteers but people with a skillset.”
At the new location, Vokey said they are expecting approximately 20,000 attendees through the gates at next month’s event.
According to a press release, Area 506 Ribfest will feature fan-favourite rib teams Crabby’s BBQ, Fat Boys, Camp 31 and Billy Bones, all competing for the title of Saint John’s Champion Ribs, Chicken and BBQ Sauce.
A lineup of local musicians will perform live on stage throughout the festival.
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