Best of Summer
Meat and Greet
Toronto’s annual Ribfest is more than just a carnivorous celebration of its delicious namesake—it’s a Canada Day park party for kids of all ages By Sean Liliani
Glossy pork ribs
Image credit: Another Pint Please
For eight years now, carnivorous Torontonians have flocked to Etobicoke’s Centennial Park in search of the summer’s tastiest ribs. With a combination of restaurateurs and career ribbers—those devoted to all things bony and barbecued—the sundry range of vendors attracts more than 100,000 people and is one of the country’s largest Canada Day celebrations.
Festivities officially kick off on Friday, June 27, when rib enthusiasts from Forest Hill to Albuquerque lace up their aprons and go grill-to-grill. The sheer volume of meat can easily overwhelm, so the safest bet might be a meal from Camp 31, a team of Alabama chefs who show off trophies from numerous past victories. Prefer to support the true Hogtown taste? Head over to the Bad Wolf Barbecue station, operated by a Toronto catering company that stirs up a tailor-made sauce just for the local crowd—a sweet version favoured in parts of the deep South. Bad Wolf’s signature cornbread will be on hand to soak up any excess. Also available from Bad Wolf will be a delectable pulled pork sandwich, made from shoulder meat, that is slow-cooked for 14 hours.
This year’s Ribfest awards will be handed out on the afternoon of Canada Day itself, after a celebratory citizenship ceremony. Be prepared to stand in line with Michael Ignatieff and other attending politicians to taste the first-place pork. Those who don’t consider themselves ribbers need not fear food snobbery. Organizers intentionally assemble a judging panel comprising ordinary citizens to make sure the results speak to all attendees.
Though the ribs are clearly centre stage, the festival promises distractions for everyone. Live music will be played within earshot of the vendors, and kids are welcome to burn off their cotton candy highs with carnival rides and leapfrog tag. Free parking means there’s no need to rush home, so sit back and watch the July 1 fireworks as you digest the celebration of Canada’s 141st birthday.
When: June 27 to July 1.
Where: Centennial Park, 56 Centennial Park Rd., Etobicoke, www.torontoribfest.com
How much: entry free; full-rack dinners about $20, half-racks about $15.
Comments
Comment on this story
Neither Sean Liliani nor Toronto Life necessarily agree with the comments posted here. Editors will not correct spelling or grammar. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. Read our full policy
Some articles on this site require that you have a Torontolife.com account in order to comment, and this is one of them. If you do not have an account, you can register now.
Related
More Best of Summer Articles
- The Weekender: August 1–4
- Fruit Looped
- Toronto’s Best Parks
- Reinventing the Wheels
- Get Fresh
- Destination Parks for Kids
- The Weekender: July 25–27
- Toronto’s Top Pools
- Be My Guest
- Concealed Weapons
See all Best of Summer articles »