Ribs, tradition reign at Naperville Ribfest

The first day of Ribfest in Naperville had all the fixings of a traditional Fourth of July celebration.

Food, family, friends and fun were in store for groups like the Rubys of Naperville, who've made the event a summer staple since a month after 13-year-old Max Ruby was born.

"We go to Ribfest every year," said Max's mother, Pam, who also brought along Max's younger siblings, Nick, 9, and Lexi, 5, and family friend Tommy Huber. "We're sticking with tradition."

Tradition for the Ruby family meant stopping by opening day of the festival in Knoch Park near downtown for unlimited carnival rides and a lunch of ribs and cornbread from Uncle Bub's.

Tradition for festival organizers with the Naperville Exchange Club meant opening for the 28th year to offer a dozen rib vendors, concerts, a family area and carnival, a business expo and special events, such as a daily visit from the Chicago Blackhawks Street Crew.

Shana Smith of Naperville stood in line to take a slap shot at a mock goalie with her son, 5-year-old Ethan Smith, who enjoyed staying up late to watch the Stanley Cup run.

Ethan made off with a poster of No. 88 Patrick Kane.

"He's a big sports guy, so he wanted to come try for the fun of it," Smith said about the Shoot the Puck activity.

Not far from the hockey action, rib vendors enticed customers with shouted advertisements of specials on pulled pork sandwiches or stickers to wear with pride saying "Lick My Ribs."

At the Desperado's BBQ & Rib Co. booth, the source of the neon pink "Lick My Ribs" stickers, Israel Oliver hoisted the tall trophy the shop won last year at Naperville's Ribfest and bragged about another win scored last week in Indiana.

"I'm showing off that we're the returning champs from last year," Oliver said, adding he plans to tout the trophy all weekend, not unlike the Stanley Cup.

"Champions don't get tired," he said.

Some rib fans never tire of a good pun, like Pat Simpson of Naperville. In a bright red shirt with a cartoon hog that read "Piggly," like the grocery store chain Piggly Wiggly, he sampled slabs with Al and Mike Hanrahan of Des Plaines, who said the only reason Simpson was allowed at their table was his silly shirt.

"It just seemed appropriate," Simpson said about his hog-themed attire. "We're gonna eat pig, wear pig."

Ribfest continues through Sunday and the park is open noon to 10 p.m. each day. Tickets are $12 at ribfest.net or $15 at the gate.