21st Annual Ribfest Chicago: Vendors, Schedule, Musicians

CHICAGO — Dozens of vendors will be preparing more than 50,000 pounds of barbecued meat for this year's Ribfest Chicago. Held from June 14 to 16, the popular annual festival will also feature 21 performances on two stages.

The festival will include celebrity judging and people's choice competitions to award the prizes for the best ribs. Attendees are encouraged to take a ballot at the festival gate to help decide who should take home the title.

Family entertainment will kick off on Saturday and Sunday at noon on the main stage. Activities will include a wide range of musical performances, dances, games and interactive crafts.

Ribfest will be held along Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Berteau Avenue. CTA Buses 50 and 80 stop at Damen and Irving Park Rd. , and the CTA Brown Line stops at Irving Park.

Schedule

Friday, June 14: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday, June 15: noon- 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 16: noon-10 p.m.

Vendors

Austin's Texas Lightning
Base Hit BBQ
BBQ King Smokehouse
Big Joe's Backyard BBQ
Blackhawk BBQ & Seafood
Blowin' Smoque BBQ
Bo's Concessions
Byron's Hot Dogs
Chicago BBQ Company
Chicago Q
City Barbeque
Churro Factory
Dinky Delights Inc.
Dos Ricco's Mexican Fusion
El Campeon
Famous Dave's
Fireside Restaurant
Lee Concessions / LC Pho
MozzArepas
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro
Porkchop
Rancho Mateo
Real Urban Barbecue
Ribs 1
Spicy Mexican Grill
The Guiltless Garden
Wrigley BBQ

Music

Performances will be held on two stages, with non-stop music all weekend long. Music will include Americana, alternative country, indie, traditional rock and many more genres, organizers said.

This year’s headliner is Post Animal; other confirmed acts for the weekend include The Coathangers (Canada), Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Ruby Boots, San Cisco (Australia) and The Dip.

Click here for the full concert schedule.

Tickets

VIP tickets, which allow attendees into an air-conditioned lounge with a charging station and restroom trailer, start at $50.

A suggested $10 donation / $20 per family is requested at entry to benefit local philanthropy and community programs. To date, the festival has provided more than $350,000 in cash grants to more than 15 neighborhood organizations.