Above / Country star Toby Keith put on quite a display of country hits and patriotic tunes as the weather was perfect for the first day of the Naperville Exchange Club’s 2017 Ribfest at Knoch Park back on June 30, 2017. For 2022 Ribfest, organizers as well as this publication send “get well” wishes tp Keith upon his need to cancel his opening night performance at Ribfest, held this year at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton. (PN File Photo 2017)
Update, PM June 16, 2022 / In addition to recent announcements that include changes to the entertainment lineup, Ribfest organizers say music legend Lee Greenwood will appear opening night Fri., June 17, at DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL.
About Lee Greenwood… Throughout his expansive career, international country music icon Lee Greenwood has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards, a Grammy Award for Top Male Vocal Performance on “I.O.U,” in 1985, and a multitude of other prestigious award nominations. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums, seven No. 1 hits and thirty-eight singles including songs like “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time on Her Hand,” “She’s Lyin,” “I don’t Mind the Thorns if You’re the Rose,” “Dixie Road,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Going Going Gone,” “You Got A Good Love Comin,” among others.
Greenwood’s stand-out hit, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” has been in the top five on the country
singles charts three times (1991, 2001 and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat.
Opening day Ribfest hours are noon to 11PM on Fri., June 17. Concert gates open at 5PM.
6PM Lee Greenwood
7:45PM Clay Walker
9PM Elle King
To keep tabs on changes in the entertainment schedules and all the family-friendly fun happenings on the move for 2022 Ribfest, visit www.ribfest.net.
Update, June 16, 2022 / Ribfest organizers have announced another change to this year’s fundraising event, June 17-20. Note changes to Country Music Day Lineup on Sun., June 19.
Country hitmaker, HARDY, will replace Ashley McBryde on Sun. June 19, when the Exchange Club of Naperville hosts the four-day 2022 Ribfest from June 17 through June 20, at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton, a new venue for the popular family festival that started on Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk back in 1988.
About HARDY… Called a “Booming Upstart” by his record company, HARDY broke new ground with his critically acclaimed 2020 debut album, A Rock. Billboard Magazine described the album as,”one of the most self-assured debut albums in years.” Noting his diverse influences, the magazine goes on to say, “It owes as much to AC/DC as it does to George Jones.” HARDY has actually won the 2022 ACM Songwriter of the Year and the 2020 AIMP Songwriter of the Year, after receiving numerous nominations for both songwriting and performing. HARDY has co-penned TEN #1 singles since 2018, including his own chart-topping, double platinum-certified single “ONE BEER” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson. His current Top 15 hit “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” , a hard-charged tribute to a fallen friend, is the most-added single of the week at country radio upon launch.
Update, PM June 15, 2022 / Ribfest announces new opening night schedule for Fri., June 17, that includes Clay Walker.
Ribfest, hosted by the Exchange Club of Naperville, has updated the lineup for opening night, Friday, June 17. Elle King will now co-headline the show with country star Clay Walker. King also will close the night. They will be supported by local favorite, Tres Moustache.
About Clay Walker… Clay Walker, an established country star, has stepped forward in taking on several of the recent dates canceled by Toby Keith due to health concerns. An acclaimed country star, Walker has multiple platinum albums, a couple of additional gold albums and multiple #1 hits on the country charts. Known for his baritone voice tinged with a Texas twang, he is both a digital favorite with many millions of plays of his latest single, “Need a Bar Sometimes,” as well as a consistent critics’ favorite.
Walker has been public about his long-term efforts to control Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and has become an active fundraiser at various MS charity events. His message and example as an active self-advocate for treatment and control of MS resonate well with the active community service mission of the Exchange Club of Naperville, Ribfest organizers said.
Day-by-day detailed event information for the four-day fundraising festival as well as a link to purchase tickets can be found at www.ribfest.net.
Update, June 15, 2022 / Information and updates were received today from organizers of 2022 Ribfest.
Entertainment
Friday… Ribfest was set to announce the full lineup when the news was received that Friday CITGO Day headliner Toby Keith canceled his appearance due to health concerns. The crew is busy rescheduling opening night around previously announced star performer and hitmaker, Elle King, and expects to make an announcement about the rest of the show shortly.
Saturday and Sunday… The lineups for Saturday and Sunday were announced with the Saturday stage taken over by high energy, hard rocking, Halestorm and legendary Seattle-based Candlebox for IDOT Day. Sunday’s Meijer Country Music Day lineup is headlined by country superstar Brett Eldredge and features a full day of country performers with all gates opening at 12 noon.
Monday… Local favorites and past Ribfest performers take over the Monday stage with the show headed up by the fan favorite 7th heaven. The rest of the Monday show is filled with some of the Ribfest fan favorite local bands beginning with the Danhattans, followed by the Plant Band, The Wayouts and OMT, organizers say.
The Wintrust Community Banks Family Fun Area
The Wintrust Community Banks Family Fun Area will be held in a fully devoted and air-conditioned space in the Expo Center (Building 1), open from noon to 7PM. The facility will feature a complete array of free activities for kids, including inflatables, face-painting, balloon twisting, music, activity and coloring tables, relay races and special shows including a reptile show and a Kids Buck game show,
Carnival
The paid carnival attractions from Fantasy Amusements will include an assortment of thrill rides, family rides, kid rides and food and games, all available for a single, unlimited use wristband available for sale at ribfest.net or at certain entrance gates on the days of the event.
A little Ribfest history with updated promotions for 2022…
Ribfest is the major fundraiser hosted by the Exchange Club of Naperville to help fight child abuse and domestic violence, while strengthening families in our local communities. As a result of these fundraising efforts, in Ribfest’s 32 years, over $18 million has been contributed back to our local communities in support of these causes.
The Club extends its appreciation to the 2022 Ribfest Grand Sponsors.
Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities as well as detailed event information and a link to purchase tickets can be found at www.ribfest.net.
Update, June 12, 2022 / Ribfest announced today the cancellation of the Toby Keith performance for Fri., June 17, on the Ribfest main stage at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds due to health concerns. Keith publicly announced his battle with stomach cancer and his need for rest and recovery at the time the notice of cancellation of a number of tour dates was received.
“…We stand with the millions of Toby Keith fans at this time and say, ‘Get well soon, Toby,’ from the Exchange Club of Naperville,” Bev Schafman, chairperson for this year’s Ribfest noted June 12.
For updates, next steps and all details regarding the 2022 Ribfest, a popular concert and barbecue festival, visit www.ribfest.net.
Update, May 23, 2022 / Elle King is now set to play at Ribfest on opening night, Fri., June 17. Stay tuned to all the details at www.ribfest.net.
Update, May 16, 2022 / “Legendary Seattle-based rock band Candlebox will open for Ribfest’s Saturday night rock headliner, Halestorm, at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL on Sat., June 18, 2022,” according to a news release submitted by Pat McDonough, Ribfest Marketing/PR Chair.
The event is promoted by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s It’s Not a Game campaign encouraging safe, responsible driving.
Original Post, May 9, 2022 / The Exchange Club of Naperville will host the four-day 2022 Ribfest from June 17 through June 20, at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton, a new venue for the popular family festival that started on Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk back in 1988.
On opening night, June 17, 2022, Toby Keith, country hit-maker and Ribfest fan favorite, returns to Ribfest, prepared to perform his extensive collection of hits and renowned stage presence for CITGO Day. (See above update, June 12, 2022)
“We’re thrilled to open the fest with Toby Keith,” stated Bev Schafman, chair for 2022 Ribfest, in a news release. “When Toby performed at Ribfest in 2017, we had one of our biggest crowds ever. It was a great night. What better way to welcome Ribfest to our new home than with a genuine superstar like Toby Keith!”
Ribfest, hosted by the Exchange Club of Naperville, is returning after a two-year hiatus due to COVID 19 cancellations.
Tickets already are available for sale to see announced entertainment including Halestorm on June 18 as well Country music singers Brett Eldridge, Ashley McBryde, Levi Hummon and Alexandra Kay on Ribfest Meijer Day on Sunday, June 19.
To keep tabs on entertainment and all the family-friendly fun happenings on the move for 2022 Ribfest, visit www.ribfest.net.
Exchange Club of Naperville since 1987 / Ribfest since 1988
Chartered in 1987, the Exchange Club of Naperville is dedicated to the elimination of child abuse and domestic violence.
Ribfest, established in 1988 as the major fundraiser hosted by the Exchange Club of Naperville, aims to help fight child abuse and domestic violence, while strengthening families in local communities. As a result of these fundraising efforts since the first Ribfest, more than $18 million in financial contributions have been granted to more than 50 local charities.
Throughout the nation, Exchange Clubs work together to make our communities better places to live through programs in Community Service, Youth Activities, Americanism and the Prevention of Child Abuse.
