The plan to revive Vernon Ribfest in 2025 is out of smoke.
Organizers have said there will be no event this year as the professional ribbers have decided to roll south to Kelowna instead.
Impact Events and Brand Management announced Monday, June 23, Kelowna Ribfest will be held in City Park July 4-6.
The Vernon Ribfest Society said in November 2024 that it hoped to host a three-day event in July at the Vernon Curling Club parking lot, site of the original Vernon Ribfest in 2019.
The society, at the time, was waiting on responses from the city and from the professional rib teams. Planning, said the society, was in the preliminary stages.
COVID-19 wiped out Vernon Ribfest in 2020 and 2021. The 2022 event was moved to Swan Lake Market and Garden at the last minute when it appeared a venue could not be found.
Ribfest moved to Spallumcheen and the historic O'Keefe Ranch for a three-day event in 2023. Teams that took part that year were Boss Hogg's BBQ, Gator BBQ, and Grizzly BBQ.
There was no Vernon Ribfest in 2024 due to a variety of reasons, including a financial dispute with O'Keefe Ranch.
Asked about plans for a 2026 event, the society said, in an email to the Morning Star, "We are looking at trying to do something in 2026 but maybe with a completely different format, something that supports local barbecue trucks. But it is in discussion right now, and there isn't anything conclusive to report at the moment."
