'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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.