The 27th Annual Exchange Club of Naperville Ribfest runs noon to 10PM, July 3-6, in Knoch Park, located along West Street in Naperville. Nearly 200,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event and weather forecasts look promising. Festival goers are encouraged to plan ahead and celebrate safely. For online tickets and the official website, visit www.ribfest.net.
Large maps showing the locations of all the activities will be prominent throughout Knoch Park.
Simply put
A dozen rib vendors will be selling ribs in Ribber Row located in the south portion of the park. Many also offer pulled pork and other BBQ specialties with all the fixins.
The Family Area Attractions will be open noon to 8PM every day.
Family Fun Time is noon to 3PM daily. Admission is $10 for adults and children 12 and older with unlimited carnival rides. During Family Fun Time, pulled pork sandwiches will be $5.
A Bags Tournament will be featured 1:30-4:30PM Friday and Saturday.
Nearly 100 Expo Booths will provide enlightening entertainment and educational activities for all ages, hosted by a variety of vendors and Ribfest sponsors.
With a dozen choices of especially selected ribbers situated by the Carnival and the Ribber Row Stage, the south portion of Knoch Park also will become a showcase of sizzling fun at Ribfest 2014. Plus, Disney Radio will perform on the South Stage on opening day from 1-2:30PM Thurs., July 3. And, of course, the Naperville Noon Lions Club will offer funnel cakes.
Up in the north portion of Knoch Park, the Main Stage Lineup rocks from 12:30PM to 10PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Or as some folks have been singing the praises of Exchange Club’s biggest fundraiser, it’s four days of endless music on two big stages, with a big thanks to Navistar.
A Food Court featuring Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, pizza and a selection of frozen treats will be set up across from the Hollywood Casino Sponsor Tent.
For many related Ribfest stories, visit PN’s Ribfest Page.
Music Lineup
July 3
12:30 Navistar Main Stage / Naperville School of Rock
1:00 Ribber Row Stage / Radio Disney
2:00 Navistar Main Stage / Thirsty Boots
3:00 Ribber Row Stage / The Ents
3:30 Navistar Main Stage / LAVA Rock
4:30 Ribber Row Stage / No Love For Linus
5:00 Navistar Main Stage / Junk Yard Groove
6:00 Ribber Row Stage / Dan Peters & The West Side Winders
6:30 Navistar Main Stage / Heartsfield
8:00 Ribber Row / BritBeat
8:30 Navistar Main Stage / BoDeans
July 4 / Independence Day
12:30 Navistar Main Stage / Billy Croft & The 5 Alarm
12:30 Ribber Row Stage / Arbor Creek
2:00 Navistar Main Stage / Eric Lambert & Friends
2:00 Ribber Row Stage / Alligatorbreath
3:30 Navistar Main Stage / Brynn Marie
3:30 Ribber Row Stage / Black Cat Bone
5:00 Navistar Main Stage / The Henningsens
5:00 Ribber Row Stage / Hardened Bunker Rock & Soul Review
6:30 Ribber Row Stage / Toronzo Cannon
6:30 Navistar Main Stage / Love and Theft
8:00 Navistar Main Stage / The Voices
8:30 Ribber Row Stage / Million Dollar Quartet
9:30 Spectacular Fireworks
July 5
12:30 Navistar Main Stage / Mason Rivers
12:30 Ribber Row Stage / Battle of the Bands Winner TBA
1:30 Ribber Row Stage / Rio Bamba**
2:00 Navistar Main Stage / Within 4 Days
3:00 Ribber Row Stage / Viaje**
3:30 Navistar Main Stage / OMT
4:30 Ribber Row Stage / La Obra**
5:00 Navistar Main Stage / Gurus of Blues
6:00 Ribber Row Stage / Contrabanda**
6:30 Navistar Main Stage / 7th Heaven
8:30 Ribber Row Stage / Del Castillo**
8:30 Navistar Main Stage / Roger Hodgson
**5 de Julio / ¡Bienvenidos al primer “Dia de los Hispanos”
July 6
12:30 Navistar Main Stage / Live Wire
1:00 Ribber Row Stage / Phosphene
2:00 Navistar Main Stage / Bad Medicine
2:30 Ribber Row Stage / The Righteous Hillbillies
4:00 Ribber Row Stage / Mr.Blotto
4:30 Navistar Main Stage / Foghat
6:30 Ribber Row Stage / Dirty Dozen Brass Band
6:30 Navistar Main Stage / Blue Öyster Cult
8:30 Ribber Row Stage / Sonny Landreth
8:30 Navistar Main Stage / George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Shuttle on over to Ribfest
During the four-day Ribfest, shuttles will depart from remote parking locations every 15 minutes beginning at 11:30AM and ending promptly at 10:30PM daily.
Follow signs to free parking at North Central College (Brainard at Highland), Burlington Commuter Parking Lot (Fifth Ave. at Washington), NVHS (95th & Skylane), Cowlishaw Elementary (1212 Sanctuary Lane off Rickert or off Ft. Hill), and NNHS (899 Mill St.). Accessible service is available only from All Saints, located 1155 Aurora Ave.
For the enjoyment of everyone
Be prepared! Bring valid ID with proof of age 21 in order to purchase wine or beer. Adults must receive a band at the ID station prior to any wine or beer purchase.
Remember that no pets are allowed at Ribfest.
Outside coolers and glass containers are not permitted into Ribfest. No outside food or beverages (with the exception of factory sealed water bottles or baby formula) can be brought inside the park.
Bring blankets or collapsible chairs for sitting to enjoy the concerts in the open park setting.
With little shade in spacious Knoch Park, it’s a good idea to bring sun block protection, wear a hat and dress casually and comfortably. Limited tent areas are available for cover.
Exchange Club of Naperville
Chartered in 1987, the Exchange Club of Naperville aims to help eliminate child abuse and domestic violence in this community and beyond. The 150-member service club also promotes Americanism and community volunteerism.
Thanks to the success of the first 27 years of Ribfest, the Exchange Club of Naperville has donated more than $14 million to roughly 50 community organizations who strive to eliminate domestic violence. Today’s event requires roughly 4,000 volunteers in addition to dedicated Exchange Club members. Many Exchangites who continue to volunteer at 2014 Ribfest have served as past chairmen and on the Ribfest Steering Committee.
Whenever you ask the volunteers why Ribfest fundraising is so important, they’ll say, “It’s about kids!”
For more info about joining the club’s mission via membership, visit www.exchangeclub.org.
