We’ve known since April 2019 that Ribfest 2020 was going to be one for the local history books.
That’s when the Exchange Club of Naperville announced it would be moving the annual event out of town after learning changes were going to be made to their long-time venue, Knoch Park in Naperville. Fans fans would have to travel to Romeoville if they wanted to enjoy the great live music, carnival rides and lip-smacking ribs.
What we couldn’t have anticipated was the event wouldn’t actually take place at all, another victim of 2020, the year that wasn’t.
By the time the Exchange Club announced the 33-year-old event was canceled last Monday, no one was surprised. Festivals have been crashing faster than a house of cards in a tornado thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve read the stories but nothing about the work it entails and the sadness of the people who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes.
This week I spoke to members of the Exchange Club to find out just what’s involved in the deconstruction.
Ribfest 2020 Chair Bob Black explained the main reason the Ribfest announcement came so late was because the club had been hoping against hope they could come up with an alternative version for the fall.
“A lot of things were under discussion because we really had wanted to have our fundraiser (festival) on July 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th as planned,” he said.
“As time went on, more and more was going on with the CDC and the governor’s stay-at-home order. As soon as we heard about the five-phase plan to reopen we knew health and safety issues would be too much to overcome. There’s not much we can foresee happening all year.”
Black said the decision to pull Ribfest couldn’t be the Exchange Club’s alone. By waiting so long, it could be canceled due to an act of nature and no one would be liable, he said.
That doesn’t mean hearts weren’t broken. Excitement was building for the new venue in Deer Crossing Park.
This year the ribbers would have been close to the main entrance gate and all the music acts were booked. Styx, REO Speedwagon, Nelly, Elle King and Cold War Kids were among those set to perform, with a surprise fourth act set to be announced just before the event was axed.
“When we get to July 2nd, I’m personally going to feel devastated,” Black admitted. “All the work we put in to move to a new place. In essence all we are is a bunch of volunteers putting on a fundraiser. The agencies we support who fight child abuse are counting on us.
“We were so excited about the new venue. When we attended the mayor’s luncheon in Romeoville the excitement was palpable. There were new people wanting to come to Ribfest who had never been before. It was very heartening.”
Exchange Club President Ron Amato said they are still hoping to raise some money this year. They’re exploring the idea of a virtual concert and hoping those who had already purchased Ribfest tickets may donate the price of their tickets rather than taking a refund.
More Top Picks Kitchen Scales
“The other aspect is our sponsors,” he said. “Some of those have given us cash so it’s possible we will have to return it but we are encouraging them to make donations too.”
Amato said he sees no problem in relocating to Romeoville.
“For many years, our club has supported organizations in Will County and Kane County so the focus was not exclusively Naperville, even though we are based here,” he said.
As Ribfest’s executive director and director of logistics, founding member Rick Grimes has always lived by the mantra, “If we look at this too closely, we will realize we can’t do it.” Sadly, this is the first time it has come true.
“Ribfest is run by volunteers but it needs to be run like a business,” Grimes said. “I was at the first Ribfest and it has grown exponentially. I’m very happy about that success.”
The Exchange Club is now working on adjusting contracts for next year. While they hope all the ribbers, carnival rides and musical acts will be back for four days over Fourth of July holiday next year, no one can be totally sure in these uncertain times.
“For the most part we’ve been able to avoid expenses because so much has been held for next year,” Grimes said. “Money is spent throughout the year, but overall they’ve done a very good job. With the support of our partners, we have minimized our out-of-pocket costs.”
Although a huge loss this year, especially for the charities that have benefited from the more than $18 million raised over the last three-plus decades, the future of Ribfest is still bright, he said. Planning begins for the following year before the current year’s event has started, which means they’re in good shape for 2021.
“It’s a surprise to have talked with agents and artists about appearing a year from now,” said Grimes. “Although we haven’t seen the event come to fruition, we have already worked out a lot of kinks. We were very excited about what it would have looked like this year, and it will be the same a year from now. Everyone’s living in a new normal.”
About 3,000 tickets had been sold before Monday so now the process of refunds begins, Ribfest ticket chair Diane Simmons said.
“Eventbrite is our ticket company and we are working with them to generate the refunds to the ticket holders,” she said. “All money will be refunded and then (the ticket buyer) will be given an option to donate some back to our cause of prevention of child abuse and domestic violence.
“We expect this process to take no more than 30 days to complete,” she said. “We are working as fast as we can to make this process go smoothly. No donations to date but we’re hoping people will rally around this most important cause.”
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved from England to Naperville in 2007.