'Morale boosting' Rib Fest in St. Albert pivots to drive-thru format
After a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, Rib Fest in St. Albert returned.
While the format was changed to be pandemic friendly, the second annual Rib Fest, hosted at St. Albert Centre, ran from Friday to Sunday and raised funds for causes supported by the Rotary Club of St. Albert.
Last year, Rib Fest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of being part of the St. Albert City Block Party at Lions Park, Rib Fest was a standalone drive-thru event.
Mark Dixon, president of the Rotary Club of St. Albert, said several rib and barbecue vendors retrofitted their food trucks or meal prep stations to be drive-thru friendly.
Dixon said more than 1,800 people have come out.
People could choose from three different barbecue vendors, including one from the southern U.S. and two from eastern Canada.
“We have had folks who are so passionate about Rib Fest and not necessarily picking one team, they’ve gone through three times,” Dixon said.
For Dixon, an event like this helps show how the community can come together safely in a fun and delicious way to support local causes.
“It is so, so important,” Dixon said. “After managing our way through the third wave of a pandemic, to have something like this – even a drive-thru activity – for the community is powerful.
“The feedback we are getting is that (people) are so pleased it is back,” he added. “It is fundraising for the community but it is morale boosting.”
Mitchell Russell, from Pistol Pete’s, told CTV News Edmonton that the pandemic forced the barbeque tour company to change their entire style of operations.
While the way people get their BBQ is different, Russell assured that nothing to do with the recipes has changed.
“Really the stuff back in the kitchen doesn’t change much,” he shared. “We still have the same recipes and tricks of the trade. It’s just the drive-thru format changing.
Rib Fest is open till 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.