Ribfest recap: How many came, who had best ribs, how much Sammy Hagar gave
This article has been updated to correctly identify Mary Howenstine. She is the Naperville Exchange Club administrator.
The ribs are digested, the fireworks blasted, the concerts played and the tents taken down. Ribfest 2015 is in the books.
"We thought this weekend was wonderful," said Emy Trotz, entertainment chairwoman. "We thought we had a great lineup and everything went well."
Here's a recap of the fest's 28th year in Naperville.
Crowds for fireworks
Organizers with the Naperville Exchange Club estimate nearly 240,000 people attended Ribfest during its four-day run July 2 through 5.
The peak attendance day likely was Saturday, when about 100,000 visited Knoch Park for food, tunes and fun.
Don Emery, Ribfest marketing chairman, said Fourth of July fireworks were the major driver of attendance Saturday evening, with a "huge number" of people piling in at 7:30 p.m. when the park opened its gates for free.
Winning ribs
Employees of Desperado's BBQ & Rib Co. hoisted last year's championship trophy to attract customers early in the festival. But after judges had their fill Friday, Desperado's had a new trophy and the title as 2015 best ribs champion.
Desperado's, based in Ohio, also won kids' choice but didn't place in best sauce. The sauce awards went to Armadillo's BBQ & Rib Company and Mojo's Rib Shack in a tie for first with Pigfoot BBQ Cooking Team in third.
For best ribs, Texas Outlaws came in second and Armadillo's placed third.
Front-row concerts
Fans of Sammy Hagar jumped at the chance to buy a new type of ticket Ribfest organizers created to give them access as close as possible to the stage.
Trotz said the club aimed to sell 1,500 front-of-stage reserved tickets for between $30 and $52 to see each headlining performer - Paul Rodgers of Bad Company on Thursday, Sammy Hagar and The Circle on Friday, Kellie Pickler on Saturday and The Band Perry on Sunday.
Reserved tickets to Hagar's show sold out and Trotz said 1,100 fans bought the passes to see The Band Perry as well.
"We had quite a few people there on Friday night and Sunday night," Trotz said. "We're going to do it again next year."
Beer bonanza
Ribfest took its first sip of the craft beer world this year, with an international and craft beer tasting Friday and Saturday.
Brewers and beer sommeliers offered samples of 35 brews, gave food pairing suggestions and conducted educational seminars for more than 1,200 people, Emery said.
He said craft beer fans liked the tastes they got of styles including stouts, wheat ales, pilsners, IPAs, lagers and ciders from places including Peru and Belgium.
Safety maintained
Police said calm crowds dominated the festival grounds during Ribfest.
"The crowds were very, very manageable," Naperville Deputy Chief Brian Cunningham said.
"Linked to Ribfest, we didn't arrest anybody."
One safety issue arose Thursday afternoon when a man died at the carnival in what authorities have called an apparent suicide.
Cunningham said carnival rides were functioning properly. Organizers said they had no comment on the death or whether they will implement any new safety procedures.
Charities to benefit
Ribfest annually donates to roughly 50 charities that work to end child abuse and domestic violence, but those donations will come later, once organizers pay their bills.
What came sooner was a $2,500 donation from Friday's headliner, the "Red Rocker" Sammy Hagar.
Through the Hagar Family Foundation, the former Van Halen singer contributed to Loaves & Fishes Community Services' child nutrition initiative.
"He does that in pretty much every city he plays in," Mary Howenstine, Exchange Club administrator, said about Hagar.
"He donates directly to the food program in the community."
All headlining artists also autographed guitars, which will be given to charitable organizations to auction during fundraising galas.