Pigfoot BBQ is one of the many rib makers who will be at this year’s Annual Celoron RibFest, which is scheduled to be held June 5-8 at the Lucille Ball Memorial Park, 21 Boulevard Ave.
Submitted photo
CELORON–The smoky scene of barbecue will engulf the air around the village of Celoron today as the municipality’s annual Ribfest is slated to make its yearly return.
The RibFest is scheduled to take place from 3 to 10 p.m. today and Thursday and 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Lucille Ball Memorial Park, 21 Boulevard Ave. Music and live entertainment selection for the Ribfest will be provided and performed by Taylor Remand, Backlog, Bucked Up and the Untouchables.
Returning vendors to the rib cookoff this year will be After Hours BBQ, Pigfoot BBQ and Porky Chicks BBQ. This trio of barbecue-artists will be joined by a newcomer, Big Bubbalou’s Bar-B-Q. Also, another event returner, Fowler’s Fresh Foods, is set to make a return at this year’s event.
The RibFest newbie, Big Bubbalou’s, according to bigbubbalous.com has won the People’s Choice Ribs awards at Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Scarborough, Hamilton, Oakville, London, Houston, Orlando and Ottawa and are trying to add Celeron to their list.
Additionally, this year’s pending Ribfest’s return is eagerly anticipated by some of the event’s previous attendees, rib-artists and rib connoisseurs alike.
“It’s that time of year again to smash some ribs and slaw,” said Markus Dwaileebe, a long-time Ribfest attendee and resident of Jamestown. “Pigfoot BBQ is one of my all-time favorites. However, every year we seem to get one or two new barbecue makers and I love trying the new home/house brands of sauces.”
For the owners of Pigfoot BBQ, a Mentor, Ohio based company, the Celoron RibFest has historically been a wonderful venture for them. A smoke-filled competition where they’ve received laurel-reefs of victory at times. The tandem team of owners for Pigfoot are not only looking forward to a return to one of their favorite venues, but are planning to reveal some new, tasty and hopefully award-winning products as well.
“We’ve attended the Celeron RibFest for 10 to 12 years now,” said Art Strauss, co-owner of Pigfoot BBQ. “We’ve done exceptionally well there in the past. We’ve won best ribs, best sauce and other awards. Plus, the area is beautiful, and the park is amazing.”
Art Strauss and Kevin Gift are the co-owners of Pigfoot BBQ.
The owners of Pigfoot BBQ are also planning on releasing a new concoction at this year’s Rib cookoff, one which they hope will earn them another check in the “W” section.
“I’m not going to say what it is yet,” said Strauss. “We’ll reveal it at the RibFest, and it will blow your mind and taste buds away.”
According to the village officials the event can attract more than 20,000 people.
“We average 15,000 people, give-or-take, each year,” said Mayor Scott Schrecengost. “We’ve had as high as 20,000 in the past.”
Moreover, Schrecengost, also alluded to the bilateral benefits this event brings to the village and other organizations as well.
“After all the bills are paid, any profits made are divided amongst the various non-for profits in our area,” he said.