The organizers of the annual Esquimalt Ribfest have unofficially confirmed the cancellation of this year’s event.
The end-of-summer tradition usually takes place every year in early September at Esquimalt’s Bullen Park, but this year.
In a Facebook comment last week, the organizers stated that the event has been postponed to 2021, and an official statement to announce this is in the works.
The 2020 Esquimalt Ribfest was slated to take place between September 11 and 13.
The annual event features drinks, live music, and of course, ribs as six rib-squads engage in a battle of taste and compete to win the coveted ‘Best Sauce’ and ‘Best Ribs’ title each year.
While an official statement has not yet been released, this year’s event was most likely cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in place that require events to place a 50-person limit on patrons.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has also stated that people are unable to maintain physical distancing while inebriated, which could make a drinks-friendly event like Ribfest particularly unsafe.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to the Chair of the Esquimalt Ribfest Committee for comment.
