Ribfest will rock Lake in the Hills
Fans of ribs and music will flock to Lake in the Hills this weekend at the Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest at Sunset Park.
The festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday. Rib options from vendors across the U.S. will be available to attendees, in addition to other food and drink choices.
New this year will be The Other Side, a Crystal Lake-based sober bar that will offer coffee, nonalcoholic cocktails and water, organizer Lindsay Herrera said.
Ribfest also is among the only events of its kind in the Chicago area after Naperville’s popular Ribfest was called off this year.
In Lake in the Hills, in addition to food and music, there will be carnival rides. The carnival will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for rides are $1 per ticket, $20 for 20 tickets and $40 for 44 tickets.
People also can buy a $30 wristband for unlimited rides from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A new wristband is required for each day.
There will be a “vendor blender” throughout the weekend, which highlights small businesses and local crafters and creators. The vendor blender runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s who’s performing this weekend:
Friday:
• 6:45 p.m. — rock cover band Anthem
• 9 p.m. — Queen- and Lady Gaga-inspired act Radio Gaga
Saturday:
• Noon — rock 'n' roll cover band Everett Dean and the Lonesome Hearts
• 2 p.m. — 1970s band Renegade Wildflower
• 4:15 p.m. — ZZ Top-inspired band Eliminator
• 6:30 p.m. — Pat Benatar-inspired band Heart to Heartbreaker
• 9 p.m. — arena rock group Jefferson Starship
Sunday:
• Noon — Caribbean rock band Mr. Myers Band
• 2 p.m. — rock band Generation
• 4:30 p.m. — disco group The Disco Circus
If you go:
Admission is $5, but it’s free for children younger than 12 when accompanied by an adult and for active military members with a military ID. Parking is free, and attendees are asked to follow signs posted around Sunset Park to find the nearest designated lot. For information, visit rockinrotaryribfest.com.