Ribfest on Sparks Street welcomes large crowds this weekend
Hundreds of residents and tourists made their way to downtown Ottawa for the annual Ribfest on Sparks Street.
"It’s just such a family-friendly event with all these great food vendors," said Joyce Mackenzie, carrying three cartons of ribs and treats for her family of four.
The smell of barbecue was hard to miss with rib trucks spread out from Metcalfe Street to Kent Street. Each one, offering up their very best in BBQ sauce, chicken, ribs and pulled pork.
However, it was a slow start to the annual event.
"Our weekday where we had the lunch crowds has changed. It was definitely a weaker Friday this year," said Bernie Gerl, the owner of Camp 31 BBQ. They’ve been part of Ottawa’s Ribfest since its inception.
Organizers say the hot weather and lack of downtown office workers are contributing factors.
"We're kind of having to rebuild it from the ground up," Kevin McHale, the executive director of Sparks Street BIA, said. "When this festival started, it was a Wednesday to Friday. Last year we saw a switch and we're seeing a bigger than normal kind of lunch on a Saturday, so we're hoping we'll have a good remaining two days."
Bars and restaurants on the pedestrian street are also excited by the influx of weekend visitors. Many are offering up a seat on the patio to those enjoying the BBQ, as long as you pay for a drink.
"It’s a good buzz right now; we’re happy," Steve Chandler, the general manager for Dunn’s Deli, said.
He says the Saturday crowds are a vast change from just 24 hours ago.
"Not even close. You do it for lunch and it dies off (during the week)," Chandler said. "I was expecting three to four more times business today than the last three days."
Ribfest runs until Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.