Ribfest No More: Beloved Festival Ends After 35 Years

NAPERVILLE, IL — After 35 years as one of the most anticipated festivals of summer, Ribfest will not resume, the Exchange Club of Naperville announced in a social media post Tuesday.

The announcement comes shortly after Ribfest 2024 was canceled. For the past five years, the fate of Ribfest seemed to have been in flux. Ribfest had traditionally been held in Naperville, but after the Exchange Club's lease expired at Knoch Park, they were unable to find an alternative venue, according to Tuesday's announcement.

After back-to-back cancelations due to the pandemic, Ribfest moved to DuPage County Fairgrounds in 2022 and 2023.

"We can be proud of the years of service we have given to our town and families," the announcement reads, adding that Ribfest was a large part of the more than $22 million the organization has raised in the past 35 years to combat domestic violence and child abuse.

The announcement concluded, "Our impact will live on in our community because of our years of dedication and service to our community."