Fans and first-timers enjoy Lake in the Hills ribfest
No matter how hot it may get, the Havard family of Cary will not miss Rockin’ Ribfest in Lake in the Hills. Period.
“We have to come,” Milissa Havard said, as her husband, Rich, nodded. The couple took their three kids to Ribfest on Saturday, and sampled ribs from each of the seven vendors — Mojo’s BBQ, Pigfoot, Armadillo’s, Texas Outlaws, Aussom Aussie, Smokin’ Joe’s Hog Wild Barbeque, Chicago BBQ Company and Uncle Bub’s BBQ.
Fifteen-year-old Matt Havard said his favorite was Armadillo’s. “It’s the most tender meat.”
His father liked Uncle Bub’s. “They have a lot of flavor, and they’re not too saucy,” Rich Havard said.
The annual event is organized by the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club and serves as the group’s main fundraiser.
In addition to loads of ribs, it also features plenty of music and several vendors’ booths, plus a car show and fun games for the whole family.
Although the temperature didn’t reach 100 degrees on Saturday, it was still very, very hot, said Lake in the Hills resident Brandon Leibert.
He and his wife, Selena, decided to try out Ribfest for the first time. “It was just something to do on a Saturday. We were hungry,” Leibert said, as his wife fed their baby, Charlie, a bottle of formula.
Veteran fest worker Barb Lyon, of Medina, Ohio, said she never had to endure such prolonged heat in her 28 years on the job throughout the United States.
On Saturday morning, one of her co-workers at the lemonade stand was taken to the hospital by ambulance with symptoms of heat exhaustion, she said.
Chicago BBQ Company manager Paul Myers said his team arrived for setup on Wednesday armed with eight cases of bottled water and tons of energy drink bottles. “Today is a little better, but not much,” he said.
The McHenry County Road Pirates are raffling a 2012 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic to benefit an 18-year-old girl from Crystal Lake who had a heart transplant last year.
Tickets are $10, and part of the proceeds will also benefit Little Angels in Elgin, Gigi’s Playhouse in McHenry, and the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.
Rockin’ Ribfest runs through today at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road in Lake in the Hills. Entrance fee is $5 for ages 13 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information visit lithribfest.com.