It's smoked meat galore in Penticton.
Five renowned rib trucks — four Canadian and one from North Carolina — took over Okanagan Lake Park for another edition of the annual Penticton Ribfest on Saturday (July 26).
Ribs, chicken, brisket, and popular southern barbecue side dishes are being served until Sunday evening as large crowds enjoy live music, adult summer games, and more.
"It's an amazing event," said Frank Bavaro of Boss Hog's BBQ, based in London, Ontario. "Everyone's here to have a good time and serve great 100 per cent barbecue."
Ribbers in attendance are competing this weekend for several awards. Guests of the festival are encouraged to vote for their favourites as they try different foods and sauces.
"It's a great time for people to come down and break bread together," Bavaro said. "Everyone's making noise and competing against each other."
Ribfest runs until Sunday, July 27, with live rock and roll, kids' zone, adult summer games, and vendors.
Boss Hog's is serving up food alongside Smoke Dem Bones, Gator BBQ, Grizzly BBQ, and Bubba Lou's Barbecue Ribs.
It's a full-time gig for ribbers who hit festivals across North America, with most starting work each day at 7 a.m., Bavaro explained.
"When we get here on Thursday to set up, the smokers go 24/7," Bavaro said. "We bust the dust, fill out the smokers, and come back in the morning."
This year's festival introduced all-you-can-eat options, allowing guests to enjoy all the barbecue food they want during select times. Organizers, who debuted the new-look event last September after taking over operations from the Rotary Club of Penticton, are also selling fast-pass tickets for guests who want to skip the lines.
"It's the rub, the barbecue sauce, the way we smoke it, the wood we use, and how long we smoke," Bavaro said when asked what makes a great piece of smoked meat. "Everybody's different."
