Ribfest opens four-day run in Naperville

The rest of Naperville's Ribfest weekend will belong to Rasta Joe, Butch, Porky and a band of Texas Outlaws.

But Thursday afternoon belonged to Glamorous Gwendolyn and the Forms in Motion Circus and a petting zoo llama that many children and adults mistook for a camel.

The Naperville Exchange Club's annual celebration - which continues through Sunday at Knoch Park, 724 S. West St. - opened at noon Thursday with a Family Fun Day and an expanded festival footprint for food and music. But lines to enter the Miller Petting Zoo, ride Pharoahs Fury or watch Gwendolyn perform her Lyra act were longer than those for any rib vendor.

Six-year-old Katelyn Passarelli watched Gwendolyn shift into various positions and shapes on a metal hoop suspended above the ground and wondered when her gymnastics class would begin practicing such a routine.

"I think I can do that," she told her mom, Jodie, and older sister Gianna. "I just need to work on it."

This year the expansion of the popular Family Fun Days carnival has been moved inside the fest and will continue from noon to 4 p.m. today. Visitors can purchase $1 hot dogs, $1 ice cream and unlimited carnival rides for $10 per person. In addition, participating rib vendors are offering $3 off a slab of ribs during that time.

"It's worth the money to come in on a great afternoon like this and grab a late lunch while the kids tire out in the bouncy house," said Renee Demel of Naperville. "I don't have to cook and they'll be passed out early."

The new layout at Ribfest means the event can hold nearly 60,000 people at a time - about 20,000 more than last year.

Ticket prices have increased to $12 at the gate. Kids 11 and younger are free.

Proceeds go toward combating child abuse. Last year's celebration raised $773,000. Of that, $550,000 went to nonprofit groups through grants and $110,000 went to Project HELP, the club's own program that provides parent mentoring services.

Sixteen rib vendors will be on hand. Ribbers such as Porky 'N' Beans, Butch's BBQ, Sweet Baby Ray's and Uncle Bub's will not only be feeding the masses but also competing to impress a panel of judges.

A music lineup of pop, rock and country acts including John Kay and Steppenwolf, Eric Burdon and the Animals, LeAnn Rimes, Sammy Hagar, Sister Hazel, Tonic, Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat and Julianne Hough is also ready to go.

Festivities will continue from noon to 10 p.m. through Sunday at the park, 724 S. West St.