Ribfest Weekend in Naperville, IL
July Fourth Festivities: Food, Fun, Music and Fireworks Chicago Area
Jun 13, 2008
Fourth of July weekend is traditionally a time for picnics, food, gathering, music and fireworks. Naperville Exchange Club's Ribfest offers all that in grand scale. Ribfest in Naperville is an annual event. This year the dates of Ribfest are July 3 to July 6.
Naperville is about 35 miles of the City of Chicago. Taste of Chicago is being held at Grant Park in the Windy City. People who don't want to travel into the city can find a great celebration in Naperville. Naperville's Ribfest offers a festive Independence Day Celebration in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Ribfest features music, fireworks, fun and food.
Fourth of July Fireworks
Fireworks will light the skies over Ribfest and Naperville on July 4 starting at 9:30 pm. The Fireworks display is provided by the City of Naperville and Naperville Park District. The Ribfest gates open for free public admission to the fireworks show at 8:00 pm on July 4.
Ribs at Ribfest
Ribfest has been voted the Best Fest in the Midwest by Festival Magazine for 14 years in a row. Ribfest recruits some of the best rib vendors in America, for some of the best BBQ anywhere.
Rib vendors pridefully present their ribs for sale to the crowds. Rib vendors include: Desperado's BBQ 7 Rib Co, Fast Freddy's Electric BBQ Ribs, Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue and Catering, Texas Outlaws BBQ, Pigfoot, Aussom Aussie, Butch's Smack Your Lips B-B-Q, Porky N Beans National BBQ Cooking Team, Rasta Joes BBQ, Sgt. Oink's Pit BBQ, Johnson's BBQ, Mojo's Ribshack, Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild Barbeque, Armadillo Rib and Que Company and Howling Coyote Southwest BBQ.
Entertainment on Two Stages at Ribfest
Ribfest has an impressive lineup of musical talent on two stages of entertainment. The Miller Lite Main Stage highlights Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Joan Jett and Trace Adkins. The Brian R. Schultz Rock & Roll Stage features Big Head Todd, The Turtles, Foghat and Average White Band. Headlining entertainment is in the evening. There is musical entertainment all day long, building up to the headliners.
Miller Lite Main Stage
- Ted Nugent - Thursday, July 3 at 8:00 pm: Guitar wildman Ted Nugent is one of rocks top live acts. The exceptionally talent guitar player is a family man and one of the few hard rockers who has stuck to a lifelong anti-drugs and anti drink stance throughout his career.
- REO Speedwagon - Friday, July 4 at 7:15 pm,:The rock band's brand new album is "Find Your Way Home," which is REO Speedwagon's first studio collection of new material iv over a decade.
- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Saturday, July 5 at 8:00 pm: Joan Jett was the first woman in rock to own a record label, Blackheart Records. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts song, "I Love Rock n Roll," claims the #28 song on the charts of all time.
- Trace Adkins - Sunday, July 6 at 8:15 pm. Country music star with an instantly recognizable baritone voice. Trace Adkins has released "American Man, Greatest Hits, Volume II."
Brian R. Schultz Rock & Roll Stage
- Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Thursday, July 3 at 8:30 pm:
- The Turtles Featuring Flo and Eddie - Friday, July 4 at 7:30 pm: The Turtles gained fame in the 1960's, with hits: "Happy Together," "You Baby," "Eleanor," "You Showed Me" and "It Ain't Me Babe.
- Foghat - Saturday, July 5 at 8:30 pm: Foghat began their careen in 1971 and became a major touring and recording act.
- Average White Band - Sunday, July 6 at 8:30 pm. Soul and funk band with several gold selling albums and multi Grammy nominations.
BP Family Area
The five acre Family Area is the place for family entertainment. Family Area has climbing walls, inflatable rides, a bull ride, high wire circus, petting zoo and magic shows.
"Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America" Bicentennial Tour
This mobile tour is in honor of the "Bicentennial of the Birth of President Abraham." The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois is traveling with this mobile museum exhibit for two years. The free exhibit uses interactive elements, graphics, documents and artifacts inside a 53 foot long double expandable trailer.
Ribfest General Information
Ribfest runs from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6. Festival hours are noon to 10:00 pm. Ribfest is located at Knoch Park in Naperville, Illinois. The Ribfest website advises parking in a remote lot and taking a free shuttle to the festival grounds.
Tickets at the gate are $10. Advance tickets can be purchased for $8. Advance tickets are available on-line or at participating area Jewel Osco stores.
Information subject to change.
There are 4th of July festivals in the Northwest Suburbs too! Bigger festivals include Arlington Heights, Wheeling and Palatine. See Fourth of July Chicago NW Suburbs
