Rotary Rockin' RibFest to offer 10th anniversary blast
A solid decade of success is what the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club is celebrating with their annual Rotary Rockin' RibFest 2015 to be held on July 9-12 at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, Lake in the Hills.
The Lake in the Hills Rotary Club, a volunteer organization of business and community leaders who provide humanitarian service and build goodwill, has raised more than $500,000 over the years and given back to charity in the community and improving lives worldwide through Rotary International.
"Our four days of family-friendly fun has something for everyone," said Dot Dustin, chair of this year's event. "Families should mark their calendar now and invite everyone they know for fantastic music every day, award-winning ribs from around the country, local artisan booths, car shows, demonstrations, scholarships and raffles for great prizes."
"Of special interest is the Lip Smackin' BBQ Smack Down Community Cook-Off that will take place Sunday," said Steve Swanson, co-chair of the event. "The cook-off was created for our amateur local ribbers. Community members can showcase their grilling prowess and perhaps take home the $150 grand prize, and, of course, bragging rights.
"STAR 105.5 radio morning host Joe Cicero will be our celebrity judge again this year, along with Jim Lynam of Y103.9 FM The Fox," Swanson said.
The main theme of the Rotary Rockin' Ribfest - barbecue ribs and rock music - will be hard to miss. Throughout Rockin' Ribfest, eight extraordinary barbecue vendors will offer up their prized meats and sauces, including Mojo's Rib Shack, Pigfoot BBQ, Howling Coyote, Armadillo's BBQ, BBQ King Smokehouse, Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild BBQ.
"This is some of the best BBQ in the country," explained Dustin. "Each year the crowd gets bigger, last year over 20,000 people enjoyed the ribs and music."
And once the music starts, it won't stop.
Eliminator: America's #1 ZZ Top Band and Kashmir: The Led Zeppelin Show will heat up the stage Thursday afternoon and evening, and The Fortunate Sons: The Midwest's Premier CCR Show and Little Texas: America's Favorite Rockin' Country Band will perform Friday.
Saturday will feature all-day musical entertainment, starting at 1:30 p.m. with Recycle The Day and concluding with headliner Hoobastank at 9 p.m. The bands The Gingers: Redheads That Rock and The Personnel will fill the afternoon time slots. Sunday afternoon Jamie Campbell & The Redneck Romeos and Howard and the White Boys will perform.
The 1980s and 90s music cover band, Wedding Banned, will close down Rockin' Ribfest with a finale performance from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Other weekend attractions will include a car show on Saturday and plenty of kids' activities throughout the festival.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and close at 11 p.m.; gates will reopen at 11:30 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Saturday; and the festival will conclude with Sunday's activities from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 a person; children 12 and younger enter free of charge with an accompanied adult. Active military with a military ID also enter free.
Festival sponsors include: McHenry County Community Foundation, Northwest Herald, 24-Hour Comfort, STAR 105.5 FM, Y103.9 the Fox FM, Moretti's and Miller Lite.
Rockin' Ribfest is the signature fundraising event for the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club. Proceeds from this event will support the club's commitment to the Lake in the Hills Veteran's Memorial, clean water projects and schools in underprivileged countries as well as local food trucks, support to Pioneer Center programs, area food pantries, the Women's League of Lake in the Hills and Operation Warm, which provides winter coats to local schools for children in need.
Registration and paid contest fee for the Community Cook-Off are due June 30.
For information, visit www.LITHRotary.org or www.lithribfest.com.