After nine months of meetings at the Hotel Arista, Chairman Marty Walker (in the red shirt) and the 2013 Ribfest Steering Committee have filled five days with family activities and music to present the city’s biggest barbecue and concert festival throughout Knoch Park, July 3-7.
“We have been meeting at Hotel Arista for the past 9 months and the months have gone by quickly,” said Walker. “We’ve made so many changes to Ribfest that really nobody will see any of them! We have gone out for bid on every aspect of the event to save money. We have a new tent company, a new electrician, a new plumber a new skybox provider, a new cad drawing provider!”
As tents were going up, Walker was in awe of how much work had been accomplished as well as the commitment of 19 committee chairmen and more than 50 volunteers on the steering committee.
“It has been truly an honor and a blessing to be the chairperson of Ribfest,” Walker added. “The Exchange Club is an amazing group of men and women, totally committed to their mission statement ‘People helping people.’ Without Ribfest, many programs would not be able to do their blessed work. Living and volunteering in Naperville is my life’s mission.”
Since the first Exchange Club of Naperville Ribfest in 1988, the event held in cooperation with the City of Naperville and the Naperville Park District has raised more than $13 million to fund nonprofit social service agencies that help prevent domestic violence and child abuse. Fifty different social service agencies and projects have benefited.
RELATED PN POSTS: 2013 Ribfest will be staged July 3-7 at Knoch Park. Admission at the Gate is $15. Children 11 and under always are free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
Happy Independence Day and Ribfest happenings planned on July 4.
