Ribfest sitting pretty to celebrate 21st year

I'll always remember our family's first Ribfest in 1993.

Our then 10-year-old son hit a few consecutive baskets at one of the midway carnival games, and we proudly took turns carrying his oversize flexible trophy all over Knoch Park.

His prize that sultry summer evening was a 5-foot-long jumbo, plush, hot-pink snake.

We kept that useless stuffed reptile in a corner of Jeff's room for years, only to be uncurled occasionally to spank out the dust of a fun memory.

That first experience was followed by serving rib dinners in the sponsor's tent. And a tradition began of putting in time at beer tents, Riverwalk exhibition booths, novelty concessions, ID-checking tables and entrance gates over the years.

Friday afternoon I found myself reminiscing with Naperville Exchange Club member Don Emery, this year's Ribfest chairman.

He's pumped about the nationally known headliners and new attractions planned for the 21st running of the festival, held in conjunction with the Fourth of July.

For starters, the Ribfest Miller Lite Main Stage headliners include Ted Nugent July 3; REO Speedwagon July 4; and country superstar Trace Adkins July 6.

The Brian R. Schultz Rock & Roll Stage boasts Bighead Todd & the Monsters July 3 and Foghat July 5.

I confessed that my fondest memories are kibitzing with Ribfest volunteers.

That's when Emery told me Maybelline will be putting together gift bags for all volunteers.

"Maybelline? The cosmetic company?" I asked.

Emery then described The Great Beauty Tour, a traveling trailer unit retrofitted in fashionable style with interior spaces for make-up artists to offer consultations and more.

I vowed to sign up to volunteer pretty quickly, endorsing Maybelline as my brand of mascara.

Emery said quite a number of women have told him the same thing.

So I searched the cosmetic brand online to find Maybelline first began marketing cake mascara in 1917, way before I started using it!

More at Ribfest

Also, The Southern Living BBQ on Tour will bring its brand to Ribfest, promoted by Southern Living as one of its "Top 10 Stops" of the season.

Barbecue expert Troy Black will come along to share some of his trade secrets, with free cooking demonstrations, food sampling and recipes to take home.

Emery is also enthusiastic about "The Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America" bicentennial mobile museum exhibit that will be free to Ribfest patrons all four days.

Developed by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, the exhibit chronicles Lincoln's life "from his poor beginnings to his ascension to the presidency and his assassination."

The mobile museum debuted last week at the American Association of Museums Convention in Denver. Later this summer it's headed to both national political conventions -- Democrats in Denver and Republicans in St. Paul, Minn., -- as it travels nationwide to commemorate Lincoln's bicentennial through August 2010.

"We'd like to get the word out about the Lincoln exhibit to all the school children," Emery said.

"And Joe Rizza is providing a two-year lease on either a Porsche Boxter or a Lincoln MKX for the Ribfest raffle," he added.

Raffle tickets are three for $5.

Emery is hopeful Rizza's donation will drive folks to www.ribfest.net to view the selection of prizes and purchase raffle tickets online.

Ribfest never ends

Members of the Exchange Club Ribfest Steering Committee began organizing Ribfest 2008 immediately following last summer's success.

Emery promises that the popular children's area will return. As always, gate admission is free for all children 11 and younger.

In case you're wondering why all the fuss for 21 years, all proceeds are used by the Exchange Club to fight against child abuse and domestic violence.

In fact, thanks to Ribfest 2007, $800,000 in grants were presented to 40 nonprofit social service agencies.

Roughly 1,700 volunteers are needed to fill six-hour shifts; 420 volunteers per day.

Sign-up information is online at www.ribfest.net.

Finally, Emery said Ribfest ticket pre-sales ($8 each) are now available at local Jewel stores.

When gates open July 3, Ribfest will arrive at this milestone with several educational and entertaining attractions that likely will appeal to another set of festival goers.

I couldn't help but think Ribfest just gets better with age.