For the past three years, RibFest, the city’s biggest food festival was celebrated in June. For 2025, the Rotary Club of St. Albert, the sponsoring service club, has made a few changes.
While RibFest will still be located at Century Casino, the biggest difference is the date. The meat-lovers' dream festival is slated to take place August 8-10 in combination with Rock’n August.
“When RibFest initially approached us, we asked for a June date. But the rainy weather and the Stanley Cup playoffs last year killed the crowd. A lot of people got takeout and left. And the beer tent made hardly any money. This year we didn’t want to compete with the Oilers,” said Rotary RibFest organizer Craig Malin.
In a business decision, the master ribbers are also bringing in three truckloads of meat instead of the standard four. Billy Bones World Famous BBQ, Buckeye Barbecue and Blazing BBQ are setting up their grills outdoors at the casino’s parking lot. A beer tent and entertainment round out the event.
The pitmasters originally set up in 2019 at Lions Park with four trucks. They competed whole hog, shoulder-to-shoulder, to create a block party atmosphere. However, it rained that weekend, and the park turned into a mushy gigantic lawn.
“It wasn’t very popular that year,” Malin said.
The following year was cancelled because of the COVID pandemic. However, from 2021 to 2023, the Rotary Club worked in partnership with St. Albert Centre to host a drive-through event in the mall parking lot.
“It was very successful, the perfect storm under those circumstances. But once the restrictions were lifted, we wanted to get back to a personal event. The casino hosted us last year and they’re happy to have us back.”
Although RibFest is downsizing to three trucks, Malin is confident food fans will enjoy the festive occasion every bit as much.
“It’s proven to be a very popular event," he said. "It’s back as a walk. We encourage people to go for a plate of food and drink, listen to the music and enjoy the show.”
