Romeoville In Final Talks To Host Naperville’s Ribfest In 2020

ROMEOVILLE, IL -- Romeoville Mayor John Noak is excited at the prospect of hosting the Exchange Club of Naperville’s Ribfest in 2020.

The village of Romeoville has entered final talks with festival organizers.

“There’s a lot of details that still need to be worked out,” Noak said. “This is just going into final negotiations. We’re excited about it. It’s a great opportunity.”

Ribfest, which draws in many people annually, is expected to leave Naperville’s Knoch Park after this summer.

“Our goal for this summer,” said John Durham, president of the Exchange Club of Naperville, “is two-fold: host an incredible Ribfest 2019, and secure a new home for Ribfest 2020 and beyond, so we can continue funding worthy agencies. The discussions with the village of Romeoville are the next logical step.”

Naperville’s Knoch Park has hosted Ribfest for more than 30 years.

Romeoville would allow the Exchange Club of Naperville to host the festival in the park and open space in and around the village hall complex.

Noak said they’re in the process of working with stakeholders to address logistical matters such as parking and busing.

Since its inception, the Exchange Club of Naperville has worked to fund local and regional non-profit agencies that aim to strengthen families, eliminate child abuse and domestic violence, and promote Americanism. It has raised more than $17.5 million from its service activities at Ribfest to distribute to more than 50 local charities.

“They utilize a lot of volunteers in the process, and we look forward to hopefully connecting them with local groups as we go forward and as we continue those negotiations,” Noak said.

Noak downplayed the idea of dealing with added pressure, if they bring Ribfest to town.

“I think it says a lot about where the community is invested in its infrastructure and where we’ve come as a community over the years,” Noak said. “The fact they’ve chosen us over multiple other locations throughout the Chicagoland, including some of the biggest communities out there, I think says a lot about their confidence.”