Barbecue takes center stage at Rockin' Rotary Ribfest

Ribs, barbecue sauce and moist towelettes will be in large supply at this weekend's Ribfest in Lake in the Hills.

The Lake in the Hills Rotary Club is holding its largest annual fundraiser this weekend, the Rockin' Rotary Ribfest.

"This is our only fundraiser of the year, and we need the public's support so we can help out the Food Pantry, Autism Center, and Hearts of Gold," Lake in the Hills Rotary Club President Steve Swanson said.

The club is an organization made up of business owners that donate money and time to local nonprofits through its fundraising efforts.

Only 30 people are in the club, but more than 400 volunteers working more than 4,000 hours will make this year's Ribfest possible.

Because it is, after all, a Ribfest, almost all of the food served will be pork products. Ribs will be served at every food vendor's booth, with hot dogs for sale at some to accommodate picky children.

The food vendors are professional traveling ribbers, who go from one rib festival to another throughout the summer serving up ribs to hungry customers.

"These guys come from all over, one from Ohio, and another even from Texas," Swanson said.

The Rotary Club expects 20,000 people to walk through the gates during the four-day festival, more than double the number that showed up at the club's first barbecue fundraiser three years ago.

"We saw that Naperville's Ribfest was so popular, that we figure if we are a quarter of how big they are, we will be successful," Swanson said.

Several big name bands will also perform, including Superchick, a contemporary Christian rock band that has sold more than 700,000 albums, according to Swanson, at 5 p.m. Sunday; and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Be sure to bring the kids on Saturday, when Little Nashville, a high energy performance geared toward children, takes the stage from noon to 2:15 p.m.

For details about Ribfest, you can check out rockinrotaryribfest.com or call the club at (847) RIB-FEST.