With two of Chatham-Kent’s signature events joining together on the same weekend this spring, organizers have announced a number of changes.
Organizers of RibFest and RetroFest held a media update on Thursday to outline what festival-goers can expect when they attend the combined event dubbed Rims and Ribs on May 26-28.
To accommodate both festivals for three days of fun and entertainment, “rib” events will be held in Tecumseh Park with “rims” events taking place simultaneously on the streets of downtown Chatham.
On Friday, May 26, classic and modern car enthusiasts are invited to take part in a parking lot party at the Downtown Chatham Centre from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., which will include music and entertainment.
At the same time, ribbers will be offering up their signature dishes in Tecumseh Park, accompanied by amusement park rides and vendors. Musical entertainment will also take to the park’s stage from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.
A classic car show will take place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 27. Meanwhile, Tecumseh Park will reopen at 11 a.m. for food and entertainment, including a rib judging contest and the Ms. RetroFest competition.
On Sunday, May 28, a soap box derby kicks off at 9 a.m., with ribs and entertainment once again returning to Tecumseh Park at 11 a.m.
Tecumseh Park will then close at 6 p.m. to make way for the “End of Rims and Ribs Celebration,” a ticketed event at Sons of Kent Brewing Co.
Organizers announced in January that they would be combining RibFest and RetroFest due to planned road closures around Tecumseh Park to facilitate municipal sewer upgrades.
Connie Beneteau, project manager for the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA, said organizers for several annual events were notified last year that Tecumseh Park would not be available for any large events as of June 1, 2023.
“They did try to find RibFest an alternative [venue] but RibFest requires quite a bit of resources with hydro, water, the washrooms, and no other places were available that would accommodate. So they came to us,” she said.
Beneteau said the BIA and its partners knew hosting both events over the same weekend would be a good fit.
“This is what we’ve done to accommodate both events for this year,” she said. “If [residents] absolutely love it, maybe it’s something we can continue going forward. But right now, our intention is just this year.”
Organizers said they expect to make several more announcements in the coming months, including the attendance of celebrities and the inclusion of several charitable organizations.
