Fingers being licked free of sauce.
The smells of hickory and barbecue and mesquite permeating the air.
Vernon Ribfest Society hopes to bring those back to life with a planned return in the new year.
"Vernon Ribfest 2025, to the best of our ability, is going to go ahead. It's not secure yet," said newly elected society president Gail Dawn Basnett.
The society hopes to hold the three-day event on the third weekend in July at the Vernon Curling Club parking lot – site of the original Vernon Ribfest in 2019, hosted by the Vernon Elks Lodge – and is waiting to hear back from the City of Vernon on its application. Ribfest is also waiting for replies from the professional ribbers, the teams that make the sensual meat delights.
"At this point, things are in the preliminary stages," said Basnett. "We've only had two meetings."
There was no Vernon Ribfest in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19, and the 2022 event was moved at the 11th hour to Swan Lake Market and Garden when it appeared a venue could not be found.
The event moved to neighbouring Spallumcheen in 2023, when the three-day feast featuring the pro grilling teams was held at historic O'Keefe Ranch.
Teams that took part in 2023 included returnees Boss Hogg’s BBQ and Gator BBQ. Grizzly BBQ made its Vernon debut that year.
There was no Ribfest in 2024 due to conflicting dates with Kelowna's event and the ribbers.
Basnett is no stranger to the ribs.
She has performed as a singer on the event's live stage, licked sauce from her fingers as an attendee, and sat on the advisory board in 2023 when the event was at O'Keefe Ranch. She was in charge of the Okanagan Talent Search with the winner appearing on-stage at Ribfest.
Basnett's decision to join the society and become president came from a chat with the event's founder, Elaine Gallacher.
"Elaine is a wealth of knowledge," said Basnett. "She knows all the ins and outs, and how the event has been done. Having worked with her before, she's just invaluable and a very, very kind lady as well."
Known locally as a successful event coordinator, Basnett said the Okanagan Talent Search will go ahead in 2025. Her background in the music industry is also prompting her to look at another event tied to Ribfest.
"We're hoping to create a family festival for new and up-and-coming performers and entertainers," she said. "I've met so many young people composing original music in different genres, and they have no place to perform. So we're looking at doing that, as well, and Ribfest will be somehow involved."
