Rack It Up: Huddle’s Official Guide To Summer 2022 Ribfests In The Maritimes
FREDERICTON–Get your wet naps and dental floss ready.
Ribfests are back in New Brunswick after a two-year period that saw many events cancelled, or changed to drive-thru and delivery, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This summer, if you’re plotting your next rib feast in the Maritimes, you’ll be happy to know that just about every community is holding some kind of Ribfest-style event–and almost all of them are in-person.
It is theoretically possible to eat ribs at these events every weekend, starting in June and stretching well into August, throughout the Maritimes if you know where to go to fill up.
And if you have a harder time stomaching the price of gas than a pound of ribs, don’t fret, there are so many events happening this summer that you don’t have to travel far from home to get your sauce on.
Huddle did a deep dive and found some Ribfests we didn’t even know existed (which isn’t a bad thing), along with some long-running and returning favourites, to help you plan your feast.
Here’s our rundown of the region’s summer Ribfest schedule:
New Brunswick’s ‘Rib Triangle’
(This can be done over successive weekends)
Fredericton – “Freddy Beach Ribfest” will once again be hosted at the Smythe Street Fredericton Exhibition Grounds, from June 9-12. It will feature six Ribbers (Crabby’s BBQ Shack, Texas Rangers, Fat Boys, Billy Bones BBQ, Ribs Royale, and Camp 31), along with live entertainment.
Saint John – With port space limited for Memorial Cup festivities, this year’s Loyalist City Ribfest is getting a venue change and will take place at the Lord Beaverbrook Arena, June 17-19.
Event Chair Peter Wilkins says having the LBR site reduces the impact weather has on the event, which will offer seating both indoors and out. The arena will also house a stage, dance area, and bar.
Saint John’s rib venders have also been announced with Crabby’s BBQ Shack, Camp 31, Billy Bones, and for the first time, Fat Boys BBQ.
Moncton – The Hub City’s annual Rotary Ribfest Moncton takes place June 23-26, again at Riverfront Park. It will feature five award-winning Ribbers (Texas Rangers, Camp 31, Crabby’s BBQ Shack, Billy Bones BBQ, and Pistol Pete’s) along with plenty of entertainment.
Other Notable N.B. Community Ribfests
The 2022 Rotary Ribfest in Miramichi will take place the weekend of May 27-29 at the Miramichi Port Authority wharf on Newcastle Boulevard. Note that this year’s Ribfest in Miramichi will be drive-thru only.
If you find yourself in the northeast part of NB from June 17-19, The Bathurst Rotary Ribfest is returning with a beer garden, live music performances, and, of course, ribs from multiple vendors, including Ribs Royale, Texas Rangers, and Mississippi Smokehouse.
St. Stephen is having its third annual Ribfest from June 2-5 at the Garcelon Civic Centre, while the Woodstock Ribfest is having its community event later this summer, from August 19-21 at Connell Park Racetrack.
Regional Standouts
For those looking to keep it going, the largest Ribfest in the region is in Halifax, where Harbourside Ribfest will be returning this summer to the shores of Halifax Harbour at a first-time location: Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing.
The event is scheduled to take place on Canada Day weekend, June 30 through July 3, and will mark its eighth year in a row (although for the last two years it was delivery only).
This year, Harbourside Ribfest promises five rib trucks, (Camp 31, Crabby’s BBQ Shack, Texas Rangers BBQ, Pistol Pete’s, and Billy Bones) and plenty of local vendors and entertainment over four days.
Pictou County Ribfest is also making a triumphant return after a hiatus due to pandemic restrictions. It will take place August 5-7 at Glasgow Square in New Glasgow.
Sydney’s sixth annual Rotary Ribfest continues to offer a good mix of travelling and local vendors. This year’s event is scheduled for July 15-17 in downtown Sydney, at Open Hearth Park.
Summerside Ribfest will be back in downtown Summerside July 29-31. Returning Ribbers are Billy Bones (the lone Ribber to appear at the event in 2021), who this year will be joined by Camp 31 and Pistol Pete’s.
Tyler Mclean is a Huddle reporter based in Fredericton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].
Jennifer Harris
May 23, 2022 @ 1:00 pm
This is amazing, we need one in Florenceville-Bristol, NB ….