Friends Kris Zerkel of Elgin and Kathy Petersen of Crystal Lake sing along with Libido Funk Circus on Friday during Elgin's annual RibFest. Both have been coming to RibFest for three years.
Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
Elgin Ribfest kicked off Friday with a lineup of food and music that includes out-of-state barbecue vendors making the summer festival rounds.
The event also includes three nights of local headliners known for drawing crowds, said Bryant Haniszewski, one of the directors of the Ribfest, which continues through Sunday at Festival Park along the Fox River.
Barbecue vendors include Salt Creek BBQ of Glendale Heights, The Texan BBQ of Algonquin and three from Ohio.
Hi Infidelity headlined Friday, followed by 7th Heaven on Saturday and American English on Sunday.
Ribfest will offer more activities this year than in the past, Haniszewski said, such as a kids' workshop sponsored by Elgin's Home Depot on Saturday. A car, truck and motorcycle show sponsored by BGV Motorsports and a touch a truck event featuring Elgin's first responders is Sunday.
In addition to ribs, additional culinary choices include Chinese food, Mexican fare, hot dogs, beef sandwiches and Italian ice.
For more information, visit elginribfest.com.
Harley Eaves of Richmond, Ohio, grills barbecued ribs for BG's Main Events Inc. on Friday during Elgin's annual RibFest. "I'm mostly a welder by trade," Eaves said. "But I come out here on the weekend to cook some ribs, and I have fun doing it."
Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
Ryan Sengdara of Elgin feasts on ribs with friends Nikki Espino and Nick Vanek, also both from Elgin, on Friday during the annual RibFest. All three said they were big ribs fans but had never been to the Elgin festival before. "We plan to try the ribs from all the vendors," Espino said. "So far, BG's has had the best ribs." Sengdara disagreed, saying the ribs from Fine Smoke were his favorite. "It's been a lot of fun," Sengdara said. "We'll definitely come back tomorrow and bring more people."
Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
Isabella Ciancio, 6, of Elgin dances to Freaks Hill on Friday during Elgin's RibFest. It was Ciancio's second RibFest, and she said her favorite part was the music and the Italian ice vendor.
Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com