Mississauga Rotary Ribfest

Had an awesome time! Never been to a ribfest before but this experience will certainly bring me back next year! :)

This year’s ribfest was outstanding! Just like all the previous years! The taste and variety of food is absolutely amazing and there is literally nothing bad to say about the food, quality, service or atmosphere. We got half a rack of ribs, pulled pork sandwich, funnel cake, poutine, crepes, and freshly squeezed lemonade and CHOWED down on that array of food with complete gusto. (They were all from different stands so i can’t remember the names).
The only issue I had with this year’s ribfest is that i wish they would have added more tents for seating areas, since the ribfest weekend happened to be one of the hottest this summer. We were boiling the entire time and had to take refuge in the crowded little shades under the roofed walkways on the sides (which were already crowded with equally hot people).

Out of all the ribfests that happens in Ontario, the one in Mississauga is my favourite. The vendors are all the same as they travel throughout the GTA, to Burlington, Kingston, Oshawa, Pickering, etc. This is my favourite one not because it’s in my hometown, but because of the space allotted to it.
Mississauga’s Celebration Square is the perfect venue because it is wide and spacious, not to mention the permanent state of the art A/​V stage as the center piece, that has hosted the like of Drake (yes, Aubrey Graham) in the past. For ribfest, there are various local acts and bands that regales the audience throughout the weekend! From country to Bollywood, they have you covered.
Parking is plenty in and around the area, and it’s just so easy to walk to the various vendors to try their ribs. No matter which vendor you end up at, you know it’s going to be good, but if you are particular, always go for the ones with the long line ups! I love getting the churros and the funnel cake, they are an absolute must whenever I am at a ribfest! I love it that no matter where I go, they will be there at the various ribfests around the GTA!
I’ve attended this annual event with and without a VIP pass, courtesy of Unilocal Elite. The VIP pass allows you access to an area with guaranteed table seating, air conditioned washrooms, your own alcohol line. The pass also allows you to skip the lines at the rib vendors, the best part! There are one or two other perks for Unilocal Elite, but that’s the basics of it. Definitely consider getting the VIP pass next time!
Can’t wait for summer 2016 when Mississauga Ribfest is back!

This was our first time at Ribfest and made us wonder why we’d never been before. It was so much fun and a foodie paradise!
Thanks to Kris U. and Unilocal,my husband and I got V.I.P. passes which allowed us to skip the long lines and get to the front of the line to get our ribs right away, which was fantastic because the lines were LONG. The passes also meant we got free (empty) beer mugs and access to the cordoned off V.I.P. lounge which included air-​conditioned bathrooms (a HUGE plus in my opinion). The other nice thing about the V.I.P. pass is that it’s good all weekend, so you can just keep coming back for delicious ribs and beer and not have to wait in line from Thursday until Sunday!
We were so impressed with the variety of rib vendors (I think we counted 14). Most of them offered the same sides (coleslaw and baked beans), but a couple offered cornbread and/​or potatoes. There were also several brewers on site, offering a variety of beers from lagers to amber ales, to dark ales to name a few. We opted for the Cameron’s amber ale and it was delicious and refreshing to accompany our rib dinners.
My husband opted for Sticky Fingers ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. The sauce was really smokey and the ribs were fall-​off-​the-​bone tender. The baked beans were basically like the canned type, but not bad at all. The coleslaw was creamy and really tasty.
I had the Bibb’s ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. The ribs were also very tender, but I thought the sauce was a bit too sweet and not as good as Sticky Fingers. The coleslaw was vinegar based and also not as nice as the one my husband had. The baked beans were more of a chili-​style with little bits of peppers in them. They were also just okay.
Other items on sale included bloomin’ onions, ice cream, french fries, popcorn, funnel cakes, grilled corn on the cob and so much more! Most of the rib vendors also sold their BBQ sauce separately.
We really enjoyed sitting in the V.I.P. area with the other Unilocalers. We were next to the stage, so we were being entertained while we ate.
This is an event we plan to attend every year from now on.

This was my first time ever going to a ribfest. Don’t know why I never went before, but it was awesome. What does it have? Well, there is ribs, ribs, music, and beer. Eat ribs, drink beer, listen to music, what’s not to love?
The place was awesome.
Free parking, right under the event, was awesome! Always love avoiding the walk.
Traffic was reasonable to get there.
Tons of rib vendors, and with a skip the line pass, made ribs in your mouth in seconds!
Drinks on every corner, so your glass was never empty.
I am a big fan of the music as well. I love like performances and listening to either a good cover band or original music. It is really fun to hear it all.
I was there on a Thursday, so the crowd was really manageable. The ribs were soo good that the next day I decided to fire up the BBQ and have another ribs fest in my backyard!
Can’t wait for the next one!

I have been to this Ribfest twice now, thanks to Unilocal!I should say it was very well organized. The vendors were more spread out. There was lot of room and seating area. Also, liked that they had other tasty treats like blooming onions, grilled cheese sandwiches and churro stalls.
I liked the VIP area. At the entrance they had a cool mist being sprayed on to anyone who was entering which was quite refreshing since it was sweltering hot on the day I visited! I thought that was pretty neat. There was plenty of free seating as well in this area. And of course the best perk of the VIP pass is that you literally skip the line ups. The VIP area was also right next to the stage so you could have a great view of the performers.
The ribs as always were delicious! With vendors from all over North America you can be sure that you are definitely getting some of the best stuff here. I was invited as a judge and I gotta be honest, it was really hard to pick a winner. They were all original in their own way!
Food and other things aside, parking can be confusing for out of towners. It would have helped to have some signs or info on the website about this. I actually planned out where to park before leaving home. As far as I know, Entrance 4 of Square One seems to be the closest to the fest and it also has underground parking available. There are also free washrooms for non-​VIP pass holders in the city hall building and in fact these are air conditioned!

The smell as you’re approaching square one’s celebration square this weekend was mouth water bbq sweet and smokey goodness!!! From blooming onions, to grilled cheese plus of course the main event RIBS!!! Beef or Pork with all the fixins!
There were 2 entrances so the line up to get in wasn’t too bad. My friend and I went on the Thursday night to attend a Unilocal event so it wasn’t very crowded but the weather was great and the music was playing.
The rib vendors were pretty spaced out so no huge massive crowd of line ups (ahem Mac N Cheese Festival) We got to use our amazing fast passes so we grabbed two dinners from Sticky Fingers and Bibbs within 5 minutes and sat down in the VIP tented area. I’d recommend getting the pass which has access to seating, line by-​pass and bathrooms.
The ribs… okay so Bibb’s lived up to it’s name with it’s sweet but smokey bbq sauce and it was on nice baby backs instead of side so not very fatty. Their beans were saucy and their coleslaw didn’t have too much mayo or too little vinegar! Fantastic
Sticky fingers was my friend’s taste of choice but after 1 rib I had to go back to Bibbs because it was slightly too salty for me. Their coleslaw was a bit better than Bibbs though because it just had more crunch to it!
The wine in the VIP area was kind of disappointing… $ 6 for a very small glass (think dollar store plastic champagne glass)… should have gotten a beer for the same price.
Thanks Kris U and Unilocal for organizing! Really fun getting to know new people and nothing says new friends like tearing meat off a bone together :) It felt pretty special being a Unilocaler that night and my plus one was raving about it after :)

Been to a few of these ribfests now on the circuit, and this one is one of the better setups.
First off, full disclosure, courtesy of Unilocal,I got to be a rib judge this year and also received a complimentary VIP pass.
I liked the layout of this setup, where it wasn’t one long line of stalls. In a few other fests, the ones down at the end of the line always seem to get the short end of the stick.
Also this has a great stage set up, and even has two large screens on either side.
There’s reasonable priced parking underground (or as most people, parked at Sq One.)
Entrance was only a $ 2 donation to the Rotary club. A few other fests have charged as much as $ 10 entrance with $ 10-​$ 20 just for parking.
The VIP pass gets you a line by-​pass which was awesome, and access to shaded seating and an impressive temporary bathroom (think bathroom trailers for a movie shoot).
All in all, a great time.

This Ribfest is not like the others I’ve been to in the GTA. The park was all turf which I found odd. Parking wasn’t very good and there was no parking signage.
The staff and volunteers were great. The VIP area was perfect; lots of seating and air conditioned bathrooms in a trailer!
Wish there were more kinds of beer, not a lot of selection, but a couple local breweries were there. Gotta support local businesses!
It was hot, but there was a lot of shade. Oh and the ribs were faaaaabulous! You smell them soon as you walk in. It was perfect!

Yummy in my tummy!
I got invited with a friend and brought my bf, we had a blast!
Awesome food and even more awesome people. Everyone was really friendly Kris was so nice. meeting the elite Unilocalers was fun. Talking to people and comparing different ribs was actually nice.
We picked 2 places to try out first. We got ribs, beans, and coleslaw from Pistol Petes and Rangers. Pistol Pete has the better ribs and Rangers had the better sides.
Pistol Petes ribs were fall off the bone ao good. sauce was a little spicy but still good. the beans were under cooked and coleslaw had alot of cream (if you like that then you will like it.)
Rangers ribs didnt have alot of meat on the which was disappointing, the sauce was awesome! buy the sauce and take it home good. The beans were so good! I normally don’t like eating baked beans but these were so good. The coleslaw must have been good because my boyfriend eat it all before I got to try it.
So over all awesome place to try out different ribs and hear good music. If you go the ribs are about $ 23-​$ 30, and everything is cash.

Having a great time but it’s really hot today. Good food good music and having fun with the family.

Four-​year streak coming to Mississauga Ribfest and the event has grown bigger and better at Celebration Square.
I usually came on Thursday or Friday during lunch with coworkers. The lines are usually shorter on the first day. This year my schedule doesn’t allow me to join in the lunch room fun. But since I am not working, I got to enjoy a beer at the Ribfest yay!
First stop was Chubby mac n’ cheese grilled cheese sandwich at Chunky Cheese for $ 7.50. If you want gourmet mac n’ cheese it is $ 7. The grilled cheese sandwich was very good. I love the sign they had about no processed cheese. Put on a side of chips and pickle, delish carbs of the day.
I was still hungry after the grilled mac n’ cheese sandwich so got ¹⁄₃ back ribs at Texas Rangers ($ 9) near the stage because it had the shortest line. Sauce was tangy but not a lot of meat on the ribs. No flavour in the meat itself, no wonder the short line up. Subpar ribs.
6 Ontario craft breweries were on-​site. I was really happy to see Old Credit Brewery to represent Mississauga because I love their pilsner and honey lager. The beer is $ 6 but you have to buy a $ 2 mug for the first purchase.
The fact that I don’t have to find parking spot for 1.5hr like I did at Scarborough Ribfest earned Mississauga Ribfest a 5-​star review.

Came back on Sunday with 3 others after coming on Thursday (love VIP passes!) and enjoyed trying out some grilled cheese, Bibbs and Bone Daddy’s. Skipped the lines again with our VIP passes which was awesome in the heat.
Bibbs seemed to be the winner over Bone Daddy’s but it was a tough call. Both were amazing. Try both! I love that you can get ¹⁄₃ or ½ rack to sample so you can try various.
I just wish I had room in my belly for a funnel cake!
A fun afternoon and great vibe — See you next year Ribfest!

My first time at ribfest!
I got the chance to do it the Unilocal ELITE VIP way! Thanks Kris!
I’ve never really took the time to visit because while I do enjoy ribs, it’s not my go to food.
There were 14 different ribbers to choose from and honestly I was a little overwhelmed by the choices!
Ultimately, I went with Camp 31.
With our vip passes we got to bypass the huge line and were served immediately.
Oh my god…
The ribs were melt in your mouth delicious.
Fall off the bone, juicy and sweet.
The meal came with fresh coleslaw and beans.
If you need a recommendation on which place to choose go with Camp 31.
After speaking to friends and family about it, apparently Camp 31 is a popular one.
The venue is huge with tons of food options.
If we weren’t so full, we would have gotten the blooming onion.
Because we were VIP there was a special tent area that you get to sit in close to the stage with umbrellas, spacey tables and seats, our own refreshments tent and private indoor washrooms!
The music was great, the food was great, if you can afford the vip pass get it!
We had a great time!
Oh and don’t forget to pick up some yummy funnel cake on the way out!

One of the most anticipated events in Mississauga is Ribfest. Who doesn’t like the crazy amount of choices of ribs, great snack vendors and on top of all the great music provided? I know I do!
This year I opted for Camp 31 ribs. Probably the ribs I’ve had by far. It was saucy, fell of the bone and some sweet sweet sauce. It will be hard for me to stir off to the other vendors. The best thing with this thou was the side order of beans and coleslaw. I’m not normally a big fans of beans, but I demolished mine. And the coleslaw was perfectly seasoned.
This meal was followed by a loaded butterfly potatoes. It’s hard to finish in your own, I would suggest one serves 3 – 4 people.
We all know the food is great, but the atmosphere in this place is nuts. Everyone is happy, kids are playing and the music is the bomb. Local artist with great musical talent makes the food taste better.
I’m glad to be part of Unilocal,which helps sponsors this event. Every help counts to keep a great tradition going.
Definitely check it out! So much fun!

This one’s for my Veggies!
So your friends want to go to ribfest but being a herbivore you are reluctant. You hate being stuck with the option of a. Staying home and missing out on a night with your friends or b. You go and watch everyone devour meat while you sit there with a drink being asked a dozen times over why you’re not eating, followed by the usual commentary about protein deficiency, don’t you just want one bite, etc…
Fear not fellow vegetarians (sorry Vegans but I simply can’t include you in this because milk products everywhere), you have options! And I don’t mean you have to sit there eating funnel cake and deep fried Mars Bars, unless you want to, then have at it!
There was an awesome Indian food caterer there, and as most Veggies know Indian restaurants never let us down with the delicious, flavorful non-​meat dishes. We got the Bhel Puri. Now, Sev Poori is one of my favorite dishes of all time and this was nearly as good (personally I want more cilantro!). This is like having the savoury Indian snacks but made fresh with sauces! They of course had other things like vegetarian samosas. I was really happy to see a great ethnic vendor at an event that is traditionally very American.
Next up… grilled cheese!!! Well grilled mac and cheese on bread pressed on a sandwich grill to be exact. You won’t find any processed cheese at Chunky Cheese gourmet grilled cheese. They throw a bunch of chips on the bottom, some pickles and the best darn grilled cheese you have had on top. I actually got stopped by multiple people while carrying this so they could ask what it was and where I got it. That says a lot; we are at ribfest and people see this grilled cheese and they are suddenly drawn away from the pork and beef. It was delicious and I highly recommend that this is where you get your main dish.
Don’t forget that you have side options such as roasted corn on the cob, coleslaw, cornbread etc…
For drink options of the adult kind, there are multiple craft beer vendors. If you’re coming with your significant other I suggest going to two different ones and sharing, so you get to try out more than one place. That is clearly advice from a infrequent drinker that would only have one beer over the course of the night.
Lastly dessert, I think you all know the drill… deep fried everything! Personally, it was funnel cake or churros for me and I am glad we went with the latter because darn it they were good! And they were Peruvian. You got two for 5.00 one being the perfect amount. We got the Dolce de Leche aka milk caramel. Perfect way to end the day!
Side note for the festival coordinators, you need more garbage cans and recycling bins!!!

Oh my Oh my… get in my belly! I am loving me some ribs… This is my first ribfest in years and the Mississauga Rotary Ribfest was pretty awesome! We had a group of dedicated Unilocaler’s (organized by Kris U and Unilocal!!) who were treated like VIP at the event. If your talking about a great summer event to spend in the city of Mississauga this is one that should be on your list!
The Rotary Club of Mississauga and the City of Mississauga brought in some of the best Ribbers in North America to showcase their skills to the masses. Ribbers from Alabama, Florida, Chatham, Fort Erie, Texas just to name some of the places they hail from. We broke up into little groups to hit the «Rib Midway» and I made it a point to try every BBQ sauce there. Flavors ranged from Fruity, Chipolte, Jalepenos, Smokey, Spicy, Salty, Peppery almost everything you can think of in BBQ flavors were duly represented. Our group got to try almost every vendor as almost all of us chose different ribbers. Some personal favorites… BONE DADDY’s (located at the end of the «Rib Midway») best all around sauce Sweet and smoky with a lingering peppery spiciness that last. not hot… just right. The cuts of ribs… very meaty. fall off the bone. very little fatty areas. There were also high praises for Bibs (the only place that is selling baby backs) and Billy Bones. I was not impressed by Sticky Fingers… the line ups were long and the product was sub par. I literally had to tear the meat away from the bone and most of it was very fatty. All or most of the vendors had other options such as BBQ chicken for those who don’t eat pork. There were also other food options such as Midway desserts (Deep fried Mars, Funnel Cake, Churros, etc)
BBQ is almost synonymous with beer and there were numerous brewerys to whet your whistle! Creemore springs, Camerons, Cool, Great Lake Brewery, Old Credit Brewery etc.) You do need to purchase a beer stein from the Rotary for $ 2.well worth it for charity. Celebration square wouldn’t be a celebration without entertainment, various musical bands and performers provided a great backdrop for the crowds. If crowds aren’t your thing. then I would highly suggest getting the VIP pass. It allows you line jumping privileges at any ribber, plus reserved seating near the stage, easy beverage ticket line ups and reserved washrooms and its only $ 20 for the 4 days and if you want a half rack dinner on one of the days its $ 35 bucks… well worth it!
One of the highlights of this summer for me and a great event to take your family or friends on a summers day/​evening. 5 Stars!

Pretty good event to check out. I just went today in the morning. Had some ribs and funnel cake! Yum!
My only complaint was that volunteers/​staff at entrance were like basically attacking people or blocking people from coming in while they demanded, not asked people for donations. I get that they need the money for a good cause but no need to be so forceful about it. Big turn off for me. I went with my mom and she was surprised at how rude some of them seemed. A lot of people just barrelled through them tho because of this.

I came here for a Unilocal elite event, which was awesome as always, and great organization by Kris. I had a great time. We got a VIP pass which included «fast line», which is awesome not having to wait, and ½ rib dinner, access to the VIP area, and the voluntary entrance fee.
We were a bit overwhelmed at first every place you go to has lots of trophies and have all won competitions. So it’s hard to choose. We decided to try a few places out. Uncle Sam’s marketing ploy of handing out a sample of their sauces worked. I enjoyed the pork ribs from Uncle Sam’s for the juiciness of the ribs, but felt that it could have had a bit more flavour. I did enjoy their coleslaw and beans. In terms of flavour I enjoyed pork ribs from Camp 31, although the ribs were on the drier side.
I didn’t enjoy Hawg’s pork ribs too sweet and dry.
They also have different craft beer and wine stations set up. My boyfriend really enjoyed the beer from Cool.
The atmosphere was great with live music and tons of people on a Thursday night. If you are in the area or love ribs go check it out. If you don’t love ribs they have some other vendors including corn, deep fried onions, potatoes, crepes, churros, or Tiny Tom Donuts if you have a sweet craving,

Ribfest, Mississauga! A definite must go.
Best ever, not just for the ribs but the great music and what a happening place for a Thursday night.
Lots and lots of people all over the place enjoying the food, music and beer. Tried the Kentucky Smokehouse ribs and totally recommend, great flavour, cooked just right where meat just fell of the bone. The sides were good too, beans and potato very tasty.