Home Vancouver Events Calendar Festivals and Events in Vancouver in 2024 Rotary’s Ribfest Langley at McLeod Athletic Park

Rotary’s Ribfest Langley at McLeod Athletic Park

Langley Ribfest Rib Vendor Crowds

Ribfest Langley is a free family-friendly Metro Vancouver festival that’s hosted by area Rotary clubs. It features live music, BBQ ribs and craft beer.

In 2023 the event happened at Langley‘s McLeod Athletic Park on the weekend of August 18th to 20th. In 2024 the event happens from August 16th to 18th. It’s a fundraising event, and a delicious one at that!

For the festival’s official website visit ribfestlangley.com. For a video showing what the event looks like click Langley Ribfest Video.

 


This article contains the following information:

Where & When | What to Expect | Event Schedule | Prizes to Win | Tips & Advice | Langley Ribfest Video | About Langley Rotary Clubs | Other Information

Click on any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about Langley Ribfest.


 

Langley’s Rotary Ribfest

Celebrating its fourth year in 2023, Ribfest Langley is a fabulous community event. It’s family-friendly and admission is free (or by donation). You just have to pay for whatever you eat and drink.

The first edition of the festival took place in 2018 and it happened again the following year. The event took a couple years off due to COVID-19, but it returned in 2022 and was back again in 2023.

At the event there are BBQ-ed rib and other food vendors, family-friendly activities and live entertainment. In addition to lots of barbecued meat options, there are also vegan and vegetarian options too.

This is not the first barbecued rib-themed event run by Lower Mainland Rotary clubs to raise money for their charitable work. Port Moody Ribfest, for example, has been taking place earlier in the summer at Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park since 2015.

If you have never been to a ribfest event, and you like ribs and other barbecued food, you should go! The events are a lot of fun, and the food is delicious!

 


For the most up-to-date information about the event visit the official Ribfest Langley website.


 

Smoke and Bones BBQ Cook

 

Where and When

The same as in previous years, in 2023 Ribfest Langley took place at McLeod Athletic Park which is located at 5687 Johnston Townline Road (by 56th Avenue and 216th Street). The park is just north of the Langley Airport and Canadian Museum of Flight.

The event happened on August 18th, 19th and 20th in 2023. Its hours of operation were from 11:00 am until sundown on each of the three days. On the Friday and Saturday things ran until 9:00 pm. On the Sunday the festival ended an hour earlier (at 8:00 pm). Admission to the event is by donation.

 

Ribfest Langely at McLeod Athletic Park
The Entrance to Ribfest at McLeod Athletic Park

 

What to Expect

At Ribfest Langley there are, of course, vendors selling both pork and beef barbecued ribs. Participants in 2023 included Boss Hogs and Gator BBQ (both from Ontario), Guerilla Q BBQ (from Chilliwack), Rusty’s BBQ (from Port Moody), Prairie Smoke & Spice (from Saskatchewan) and Smoke Dem Bones (from Penticton).

In addition to barbecued ribs, other foods typically for sale include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, as well as mini doughnuts, corn on the cob and macaroni and cheese.

From the BBQ vendors you can expect pork ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork, beans and barbecued chicken. You can also expect to be entertained by the cooks while they do their grilling!

Also at the event you can expect to see hundreds if not thousands of people with their families. There are also live bands and dance groups performing most of the day, and children having fun in the KidZone.

In the KidZone there are bouncy castles, human foosball, mini-golf, corn hole games, remote control cars, a face painting station and various other fun things to do.

Food and beverages at Ribfest Langley cost money. Admission to the venue, kids’ activities and the live entertainment, however, are all free (although donations are encouraged and greatly appreciated).

 


For the most up-to-date information about the event, visit the official Ribfest Langley website.


 

Mexican Dancers on Ribfest Langley Stage
Mexico Vivo at Ribfest Langley

 

Schedule & Entertainment Lineup

Performers in 2023 included Tiller’s Folly on the Friday, Ten Souljers on the Saturday and West Coast Chicago on the Sunday. Below was the full entertainment schedule for this past year’s festival. The entertainment schedule for 2024 is to be confirmed.

(Note: Times and other details were subject to change.)

 

Friday, August 18th (2023)

  • 12:00 pm – The Springmans
  • 1:15 pm – Shawn Bullshields
  • 2:15 pm – District 4
  • 3:15 pm – Black Eyed Susan
  • 4:15 pm – The Maybelles
  • 5:35 pm – Mostly Marley
  • 7:30 pm – Tiller’s Folly

 

Saturday, August 19th (2023)

  • 12:00 pmMexico Vivo
  • 12:45 pm – Asi Somos
  • 1:45 pm – Peter Tam
  • 2:45 pm – Wicked Fun
  • 4:00 pmPop Junkies
  • 5:35 pmSteve Elliot and Alyssa Nielsen
  • 7:30 pm – Ten Souljers

 

Sunday, August 20th (2023)

  • 12:00 pmWild Moccasins
  • 1:00 pm – Ribfest People’s Choice Awards
  • 2:15 pm – Inglewood
  • 3:30 pm – Rumba 7
  • 4:45 pm – Bad Medicine
  • 6:30 pm – West Coast Chicago

 


For even more details about the event, visit the official Ribfest Langley website.


 

Ways to Win!

In addition to the great food and entertainment, there are prizes to be won at Langley Ribfest. The main one is a 50/50 draw.

The deadline to enter the 50/50 draw in 2023 was at midnight on the Sunday. The draw date was on Friday, August 30th, at 12:00 pm. Single tickets cost $20, three-ticket packs cost $50 and eight-ticket packs cost $100. The prize is 50% of the proceeds which can be up to $400,000 (with half going to the winner and the other half benefiting Rotary’s various charitable and worthwhile causes).

For full details about the 50/50 draw in 2023, click Ribfest 50/50 Lottery.

 

Ribfest Langley BBQ Rib Vendors
Rib Vendors at McLeod Athletic Park

 

Ribfest Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to Ribfest Langley.

TIP #1: Take cash. Credit cards can be used at some of the venues, but some rib vendors can only accept cash. There are ATM cash machines on-site, although service fees will apply.

TIP #2: Parking is available via 56th Avenue. There are signs and parking attendants giving directions. People with handicapped parking passes should access the venue via 216th.

TIP #3: Invite your friends and carpool if you can.

TIP #4: Donate generously. It’s for a great cause and donations can be made on-site by cash, debit or credit card.

 

Langley Ribfest Video

To get a good idea of what Langley Ribfest is all about, check out the video below. It shows scenes of the event from a few years ago. As you’ll see there are a number of rib vendors to choose from. There are also charismatic and entertaining cooks and great live entertainment.

 

 

About the Rotary Clubs of Langley

Ribfest Langley is hosted by four different Langley-based Rotary Clubs. They are the Rotary Clubs of Aldergrove, Langley, Langley Central and Langley Sunrise. If you ever want to attend one of their meetings, or might be interested in joining a club, give them a call.

Rotary Clubs are service clubs made up primarily of business people and professionals. Some members are currently employed or run their own businesses. Others are retired. To join a Rotary Club you have to like being around a group of great people who like volunteering and serving their community. All are welcome!

There are Rotary Clubs all over the Lower Mainland and throughout the world. Most clubs have meetings once a week, often with a guest speaker. Rotary International is a tremendous organization and its clubs do amazing things!

100% of the net proceeds from Langley Ribfest benefit local charities and community organizations as well as Rotary service projects both in Canada and around the world.

 

Other Information

For more information about the event, see the Ribfest Langley website.

To learn about the community and surrounding area, click Langley or Fraser Valley.

For details about the Lower Mainland’s other major BBQ-ed rib events, click Port Moody Ribfest and Chilliwack Ribfest. Other events hosted by Rotary Clubs elsewhere in Metro Vancouver include North Vancouver’s Canada Day Celebrations, Vancouver’s Rotary Ride for HearingWest Van’s Rotary Ride for Rescue and the White Rock Polar Plunge, as well as many others.

For a list of other events taking place at various times of the year, check out Vancouver’s August Calendar or click Festivals & Events.