Norfolk Ribfest supports Rotary

Chris Abbott

Editor

Chris Glassford of Glassford Productions has been rapidly expanding his ribfest business, adding three new festivals to Your Local Ribfest’s 2025 summer tour, including the first Norfolk County Ribfest on July 18-20.

They also have festivals in Chatham (supporting food banks and YMCA), Woodstock, and three in Essex County – Leamington (partnering with Hogs for Hospice), LaSalle, and Tecumseh.

“During these economic times, it’s kind of a wild thing to do,” said Glassford. “We did not foresee the Donald Trump stuff going on. We just moved forward based on our success in Chatham, Woodstock and Leamington. Those shows were doing really well.”

The July 18-20th ribfest held at the Norfolk County fairgrounds in Simcoe supported the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise. Rotary volunteers were accepting donations at the main gate and raised $3,194.50 selling 50-50 tickets.

“My hope and plan is to celebrate these cities, utilize as many services as we can from their area, and boost up that community,” said Glassford. “So if we can help out someone like the Rotary or Abel Enterprises, that’s what gets these things going. I like to see the communities benefit from these kinds of things.”

Glassford said they had been trying to make the Norfolk County Ribfest happen for two or three years.

“The fairgrounds (Norfolk Agricultural Society) was looking at doing a ribfest, the Rotary was also looking at doing a ribfest… and it came to a point where we all just kind of came together with that. The fairgrounds said, ‘You already have the formula, why don’t you work together?’

“They (Rotary Sunrise) were extremely open and accepting to it.”

The Norfolk County Ribfest opened its inaugural three-day festival with three rib vendors – Crazy Canuck Smokehouse from Brantford, King Smoke and Route 55.

“I don’t think it’s a ribfest until you have three, so I like to keep it at three as a starter. We originally had four, but… quality over quantity. We went with three of the best ribs that you’re going to get in Ontario and we focused on those.”

Glassford said they plan to come back to Simcoe in 2026, but it won’t be on the third weekend of July, a date that clashed with the annual Norfolk Pro Rodeo in nearby Nixon.

“We’re hoping to find something closer to our Woodstock date (late May or early June). If we can make that date work, we’ll save on some transitioning from show to show, and rentals. The more you can save, the more you can do for the charitable organizations.”

One of Your Local Ribfest’s staples is a craft barbecue/hot sauce competition. It didn’t happen this year in Simcoe – only one company entered – but they plan to try again next year.

“The sauce companies love these kind of events, being near barbecue. When you’re at a ribfest you’re thinking ‘I could be grilling when I get back home… this would go great on chicken or ribs…’ Spice companies, too. Spice companies do really well at ribfests.”

After the ribfest season concludes, Glassford will be moving on to the Chatham-Kent International Food Fest. He is also planning an outdoor Chatham-Kent New Year’s Eve event.