Mouthwatering National Rib Competition in Wisconsin

It’s time for Ribfest baby! Elkhorn Ribfest has quickly become a must attend event of the summer! This National Rib Competition is held each July at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Featuring live music, carnival rides and games, an artisan village, and most importantly, world renowned professional BBQ champions to help satisfy those taste buds. From the minute you step out of your car, you can smell all that smokey deliciousness.

Event Date and Location

Ribfest is held at the one-of-kind Walworth County Fairgrounds. The largest fairground in Wisconsin offers plenty of parking and space for this event. (Little side note – be sure to check out the Walworth County Fair from August 31st to September 5th.) They even offer on-site camping for those that are interested. In the past, the event typically ran for 4 days, but we were excited to see that they decided to expand the event to 5 days this year, offering us one more day to get all of that BBQ goodness! This year the event will run from July 13-17. Parking and admission into the event are also free.

Hours for the event are as follows:

Wednesday, July 13: 3:00pm – 11:00pm

Thursday, July 14: 11:00am – 11:00pm

Friday, July 15: 11:00am – 11:00pm

Saturday, July 16: 11:00am – 11:00pm

Sunday, July 17: 11:00am – 9:00pm

Attendance

According to Larry Gaffey, General Manager of the Walworth County Fair, estimated attendance has significantly increased since Ribfest began in 2016. (I am still having a hard time believing that this will be the 7th year of this event!)

2016 – Over 20,000 people

2017 – Over 40,000 people

2018 – Over 60,000 people

2019 – Over 80,000 people

2020 – Canceled due to COVID-19

2021 – Over 100,000 people!!

I remember the very first year the event was held. It was a pretty small set-up. The vendors were set up right along the outside of the fairground’s park with the music and entertainment on the park stage. Now, they have a much larger area for the food vendors, a section for the carnival rides, the park stage and an additional huge tent for live entertainment, and of course, a stand to buy beer and wine. The organizers of the event have done a great job expanding the area of the event each year to accommodate for the added attendance.

What’s New for 2022

This year, you might notice a couple of changes at the event; more BBQ companies, more food vendors, and one more day to soak it all in! In 2021, the event ran into some extremely long lines on Saturday night. I remember walking out to the food vendors that night and turning right around because of the long lines. Event organizers are hopeful the added day, along with the added food vendors, will help alleviate some of those long lines that occurred last year.

BBQ Vendors

This year, they have more BBQ vendors than ever. They currently have 13 different Pitmasters listed on their website. Our personal favorite, Just North of Memphis, is back for another year of the competition, as well as last year’s winner, Mr. Greens. We did not try Mr. Greens last year, but it is at the top of our list this year. Another side note – be sure you try the Dry-Rub Ribs and the Peach Bread Pudding from Just North of Memphis! So good! They even sell their dry-rub spices at the event, so be sure to pick up a container while you are there.

Some Tips

Go with a Group and Sample – There is no way that you’d be able to sample all of these competitor’s food by yourself. I’d suggest going with a group of people and splitting up. Get a half rack or a full rack from some of the vendors and meet up to sample them. You can always go back for more of your favorites.
Try More than Just Ribs – Yes, the ribs are fall off the bone and delicious, but try some additional food too. There will be brisket, chicken, mac and cheese, pulled pork, nachos, and other essential BBQ sides, so be sure to try some of those items too. You won’t be disappointed.
Think About Bringing a Lawn Chair – As you saw, attendance continues to increase year after year. They do offer some seating at the event, but it might not be a bad idea to pack a lawn chair and have it in your car just in case. It can get pretty packed.
Carry Some Cash or Bring Your Debit Card (just in case) – Many of the food vendors do take cards, but beer and wine sales are cash only. ATMs are available onsite, but the lines for those can also get long.
Grab a Beer to Enjoy While Waiting in Line – The lines might be long and seem overwhelming at first, but once you taste the food, you’ll agree that it is totally worth it! Just stop by the beer garden before you get in line and grab a beer or cup of wine to enjoy while you are waiting.

Entertainment

There is plenty for the whole family to enjoy while at Ribfest.

The Carnival – They have carnival rides and games for all ages to enjoy. Purchase single tickets or go for the wristband so you can enjoy the rides for the day.
Artisan Vendor Alley – These vendors have some one-of-a-kind, handmade items, so be sure to take a stroll through their tents to take a look.
Live Music – Besides the BBQ, many people attend Ribfest for the live music. They have different, well-known bands that you can enjoy every day at the event. For a complete listing of their music lineup, visit their website.

Elkhorn Ribfest’s motto is “Good food! Good music! Good times!” And that is exactly what you can expect when you attend! For more details about the largest BBQ Festival in Wisconsin, be sure to check out their website. See you there, July 13 – 17.