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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, June 25, 2014 | 8 Good eats and treats brings families out in droves to Ribfest by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" The 2014 Co-operators Oakville Family Ribfest went off without a hitch over the weekend bringing more than 34,000 visitors to Sheridan College's Trafalgar Road campus -- record attendance. While the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar is still tallying how much it raised for charities, event chair Trish Peden says organizers are calling ribfest a huge success with attendance up by 8,000. She credits a combination of publicity, "flawless" weather and great attractions for how well it was received by the community. "It's not such an uphill battle because people know where we are now," she said. "We're growing in size and ever year we make it more fine-tuned. We know what works and we expand on that and it seems to work well and draw more people." The annual event, which completed its third year, featured nine ribbers, 13 other food vendors, live entertainment and a host of familyfriendly activities, including a midway with a ferris wheel and bumper cars. Children also got to enjoy the experience of what it might be like to be a hamster by stepping into a waterball, a plastic bubble that allows a person to run around protected in a shallow pool. As is tradition, attendees were encouraged to vote for the best-tasting ribs and the best sauce. Last year's reigning champion Kentucky Smokehouse came out victorious again, defending its titles and taking home both awards Sunday. Peden said it was nice to see residents from across Oakville gathered at the same location to have a good time and support the community. "The residents came out in droves and just watching the kids enjoy themselves made every last moment count. It's a tremendous amount of work (putting on ribfest), but it makes every bit worthwhile," she said. She added organizers couldn't have done it without the help of 250 volunteers, all of whom pitched in wherever needed to make the experience enjoyable for everyone. | photo by Michael Ivanin ­ special to the Beaver | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver | photo by Michael Ivanin ­ special to the Beaver | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver | photo by Michael Ivanin ­ special to the Beaver The Co-operators Oakville Family Ribfest hosted by the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar took over Sheridan College's Trafalgar Road campus over the weekend. It featured nine ribbers, 13 other food vendors, live entertainment and a midway. Clockwise from top left, Kentucky Smokehouse's Victor Anast hoists his winning best ribs and best sauce trophies along with a half rack of ribs; Dave Brinton from the Grove Hammer performs on stage; Vince Taylor dances to the sounds of the oldies with daughters Emma, 11, and Erin, 7; The Retrievers perform during the kickoff Friday night; Boss Hog's Madison Brookes pours more sauce on the meat; Lisa Bonetti enjoys the Fun Slide as much as her son Christian, 4; and Meisha Petrilli and her kids Jordan and Jayden enjoy an amusement ride. See more photos online by visiting www.insidehalton. com/oakville-on-photogallery. | Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog