One in all Ontario’s hottest summer time meals festivals is formally off the calendar for 2025 for one township.
However native organizers and municipal officers are already working behind the scenes to deliver the favored Ribfest again.
In a heartfelt announcement launched in early February, the Rotary Membership of Bowmanville confirmed that the annual occasion had been cancelled, citing the development of a brand new recreation centre within the metropolis.
As a result of ongoing development of the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre, the long-standing venue at Clarington Fields is unavailable.
“Whereas we’re actively working to discover a new house for this beloved occasion, we can not proceed till an acceptable venue is secured,” the assertion learn.
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The recreation centre, scheduled to open in the summertime of 2026, will embrace a completely accessible gymnasium with two basketball courts, a FIFA-sized multi-sport dome with an indoor strolling observe, multi-purpose rooms and an outside skating path, in accordance with town’s Parks, Recreation and Tradition Grasp Plan.
Though the longer term for the neighborhood seems to be optimistic with the power to come back, organizers and municipal leaders are in a race towards the clock to discover a new venue for the competition by subsequent yr.
“This official announcement hurts my coronary heart,” mentioned Steve Kay, co-chair of the Ribs and Brews Committee, in a social media put up issued in February.
“The second weekend of June goes to be unusual in 2025. Belief me, all choices had been thought of.”
The favored neighborhood occasion has raised greater than $1.5 million for native applications since 2008.
Regardless of the frustration from distributors and attendees, the main focus has shifted to the longer term, with optimism that Ribfest might return in 2026.
Clarington Coun. Lloyd Rang confirmed that workers have been tasked with discovering land throughout the neighborhood that might accommodate not simply Ribfest, however a wide range of main outside occasions like live shows and festivals.
“We stay hopeful that the longer term will embrace Ribfest returning to Bowmanville, and we thank everybody who has supported and took part on this occasion over time,” the assertion from the Rotary Membership mentioned.
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