Sparks Street is about to get sauced. Again.
The second annual Ribtoberfest will be hitting the downtown pedestrian mall the last weekend of September (that’s right, September) and it promises to be a festival full of great ribs, beer, and Oktoberfest-style German food.
Ribtoberfest is hosting eight of the best “ribbers” from around North America, including Alabama-based Camp 31: who were the winners of Ribfest’s Best Sauce in June, and claim to have “brought Ribfest to Canada.”
June’s Ribfest has been a major summertime institution for almost 20 years. Ribtoberfest started last fall, as a fusion of Oktoberfest-style German food and beer, and of course: ribs.
This year, Ribtoberfest will be condensed to three blocks between Elgin and Bank streets. Les Gagne, executive director of Sparks Street shopping district, says the vendors for Ribtoberfest were selected by the Association of Ribbers based on seniority.
So, for all the MPs, politicians and students who missed out on the summer Ribfest, the September event offers another chance to sink their teeth into what’s touted as the best barbeque in all of North America.
Jeff O’Reilly, general manager of D’Arcy McGee’s pub, is a big fan of Ribtoberfest.
“I love the festivals on Sparks Street,” O’Reilly says. “I think festivals are a great enhancement of things going on on Sparks and a great reminder to the people in Ottawa that Sparks Street is alive and well.”
Ribtoberfest is not only a way to bring business to the merchants on Sparks, but also a way for the vendors to expand. Gerl says their Alabama–based restaurant decided to open up in Paris, Ont., “just to have a base in Canada since we spend four months of the year there.”
Camp 31 travels all over the U.S. and Canada to different ribfests all summer. These festivals have expanded their online business for sauces, and they have “picked up a ton of catering and weddings,” because of the exposure from festivals like Ribtoberfest.
Beyond the ribs, there is a sense of community and friendship between the vendors. “The members on the street have become our friends,” Gerl says, commending Ottawa on having a “good ribber community.”
The only hiccup in the downtown festival has been the ongoing construction on Sparks.
“Block three has been under construction for the last three years,” says Gerl. “When you close a whole block down it definitely hurts the all over show.”
Gagne explains that all of the money that comes in from festivals, such as Ribtoberfest, is put back into the restoration and renovation of Sparks Street. “We’re working on putting a new sidewalk in very soon,” he adds.
Despite the construction and the chilly September weather, from Sept. 25-28, Sparks Street will be populated by eight ribbers and floods of hungry people ready to try some American barbeque.
Ribtoberfest will have live entertainment, contests for cutters, free racks of ribs for ”silly walks.”