Western Canada Rib Fest descending on Airdrie this weekend

Airdrie is about to be hit with the mouth-watering aroma of delicious ribs, as the touring Western Canada Rib Fest descends on the city for a weekend of delicious food and family fun.

The Western Canada Rib Fest tour will be in Nose Creek Regional Park from Aug. 4 to 7 for anyone wishing to consume a rack (or two) of lip-smacking, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Three separate teams will be presenting their mouth-watering meat over the course of the four-day event.

Having spent 13 years on tour with the Western Canada Rib Fest, Billy’s BBQ manager Paul Mendonca said the event is always exciting. He added people who attend Rib Fest have the chance to witness how the ribs are made up close.

“It’s really awesome. It’s a lot of fun,” Mendonca said. “They’re going to get three different teams that have been doing this, between myself and other managers, over 50 years’ experience making ribs all across Canada.”

Not only will attendees have the opportunity to witness grill masters at the top of their game, but also have the opportunity to explore local vendors. Mendonca said it is a great opportunity to come out and enjoy some food as a family.

Starting in late May, the Western Canada Rib Fest begins its journey across western Canada for roughly 16 weeks, hitting new and familiar stops along the way. Mendonca said they make it a priority to provide jobs for younger people in local areas or from across the country.

“It’s kind of a treat for them,” he said. “They get to see the country and we pay for their hotels and put them up. It’s definitely a fun job.”

Having been participating in the Rib Fest for over a dozen years, Mendonca has seen first-hand how much it has grown. He said not only do the number of attendees increase year after year, but the number of vendors wishing to be involved and help sponsor the event has also continued to grow.

Having the opportunity to return to cities where Rib Fest had previously been a hit, Mendonca said they try to support local businesses and give back to these communities. He added it feels good when local businesses look forward to the tour’s stop in their town.

“Even going to restaurants, we try to support the same places every year,” Mendonca said. “We come in and we try to give back to the community as much as we can.

“Honestly it makes me feel great that they feel like they look forward when we come to town. I also look forward to seeing them when I come to town.”

After an eventful weekend in Airdrie, the Western Canada Rib Fest will be making its way east as they move onto Brandon, Man.