21st Annual Ribfest Chicago Returns Father’s Day Weekend

The 21st Annual Ribfest Chicago is moving dates and now coincides with Father’s Day 2019. The whole family can dig into ribs, music and more Friday, June 14 from 5pm-10pm and Saturday, June 15 & Sunday, June 16 from Noon-10pm - located in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood.

THE FOOD  

Celebrate Dad this Father's Day weekend with ribs from more than a dozen vendors. With nearly 30 food vendors, the menu includes meats, sweets, and festival treats. Ribfest Chicago serves up 50,000 pounds of BBQ in 25 hours of food and music. The fest also includes Celebrity Judging and People's Choice competitions to award the prizes for Best Ribs. Attendees are encouraged to take a ballot at the festival gate to help decide who should take home the title. This year’s vendors include:

Austin's Texas Lightning

Base Hit BBQ

BBQ King Smokehouse

Big Joe's Backyard BBQ

Blackhawk BBQ & Seafood

Blowin' Smoque BBQ

Bo's Concessions

Byron's Hot Dogs

Chicago BBQ Company

Chicago Q

City Barbeque

Churro Factory

Dinky Delights Inc.

Dos Ricco's Mexican Fusion

El Campeon

Famous Dave's

Fireside Restaurant

Lee Concessions / LC Pho

MozzArepas

Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro

Porkchop

Rancho Mateo

Real Urban Barbecue

Ribs 1

Spicy Mexican Grill

The Guiltless Garden

Wrigley BBQ

THE MUSIC

Twenty-one performances will take place across two stages, presenting non-stop tunes all weekend long, with performers and bands hailing from all corners of the country and beyond. From Americana to alternative country and indie to traditional rock.

The full line-up includes:

Friday, June 14

Emcee: Lincoln Lodge

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 5pm: Pool Holograph

• 7pm: Blue Dream

• 9pm: The Coathangers

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 6pm: Goose Corp.

• 8pm: Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Saturday, June 15

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12pm - 2pm: Kids Programming - Kids South Stage Irving (Noon to 2pm)

  • 12pm: Dave Hamilton

  • 12:30pm: Trinity Irish Dancers

  • 1pm: CircEsteem   

• 2pm: Fargo

• 4pm: CASE   

• 6pm: Family of Geniuses

• 8pm: San Cisco

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12pm - 2pm: Kids Programming - Kids North Stage Berteau (Noon to 2pm)

  • 12pm: DJ Matt Roan

  • 12:30pm: Old Town School of Folk Music

  • 1:15pm: Junior Ninja Warriors  

• 3pm: The Long Lost

• 5pm: Jordanna

• 7pm: Fort Frances

• 9pm: The Dip

Sunday, June 16

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12pm - 2pm: Kids Programming - Kids South Stage Irving (Noon to 2pm)

  • 12pm: Junior Ninja Warriors

  • 1pm: Stu Jacobson

• 2:30pm: Woongi

• 430pm: Girl K

• 5:30pm: Celebrity Rib Judging

• 7pm: TBA

• 9pm: Post Animal

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12pm - 2pm: Kids Programming - Kids North Stage Berteau (Noon to 2pm)

  • 12pm: Da Source

  • 12:30pm: Trinity Irish Dancers

  • 1pm: CircEsteem

• 2pm: The Black Oil Brothers

• 4pm: Edward David Anderson’s Black Dirt Revival

• 6pm: Parsonsfield

• 8pm: Ruby Boots

VIP ENTRY

Grab your grub and get into one of Ribfest Chicago's many lounges. The VIP experience includes a charging station and a private air-conditioned restroom trailer. And, of course, VIPs jump to the front of the drink line every time. VIP tickets start at just $50. A suggested $10 donation / $20 per family is requested at entry to benefit North Center philanthropy and community programs. To date, the fest has provided more than $350,000 in cash grants to more than 15 neighborhood organizations.

THE EXPERIENCE

Ribfest has family entertainment kicking off on Saturday & Sunday at Noon on the main stage. Family-friendly activities happening throughout the fest will include a wide range of musical performances, dance, games, and interactive crafts.