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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 19, 2014 | 4 Ribfest serves fun for ribbers and families alike continued from p.1 He said he and other ribbers are grateful to the communities that host such events because it allows them to share their passion with others. "More than anything it's just as much fun for us as it is for people attending," he said. As is tradition, attendees are encouraged to vote for the best-tasting ribs and the best sauce. There will be a tent set up for residents to cast their vote. The winners will be announced on Sunday at 3 p.m. Last year's reigning champion, Kentucky Smokehouse dropped by the college campus early Wednesday (June At left, The Co-Operator's Oakville Family Ribfest mascot Oakey (played by Ilona Kopriva) and Tex Robert Jr. -- Grandpa Kentucky from Kentucky Smokehouse -- get down to business as the annual ribfest event prepares to open tomorrow (Friday, June 20). At right, ribs are already making their way onto the grill in anticipation of the fun. | photos by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Alert: Your ash trees are at risk from the Emerald Ash Borer ® TruGreen, Canada's leading lawn and tree care company, has been contracted to treat ash trees on public lands in the Town of Oakville from June through August. 18) to give the media a taste of what they'll be serving up at this year's ribfest. Tex Robert Jr., who has been a ribber for 40 years, said Kentucky Smokehouse brings the best of what cooking is all about in the state of Kentucky. "We're proud of our smoke, we're proud of our heritage, we're proud of what we do in cooking and we're proud of how we present it," said the 59-year-old, describing how they've brought five recipes and three different sauces. "The secret is you've got to try the ribs and the sauce and you'll understand why it's Kentucky smoke. We smoke our ribs longer than anyone else," he continued. "We back up what we cook and we back up what we do and if our Ash trees in the Oakville area are at risk from Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive pest that destroys ash trees if left untreated. Avoid the costs of removal and replacement by treating your ash trees today with help from TruGreen. Special pricing available for Oakville residents. Call or visit TruGreen online for details. 1-866-294-7962 TruGreen.ca Learn more about protecting your ash trees. Join the Oakville Canopy Club. For more information visit oakville.ca meat doesn't fall off the bone, pick anywhere in the park and we'll get you what you want. I guarantee what we cook and do," he said. While the Kentucky Smokehouse team has won countless awards over the last 20 years it has been in business, Robert Jr. said it's not about the accolades, but to camaraderie between ribbers and the reaction from residents. "If we get a trophy in the end and win, we're happy, but the point is it's the smile and what we get from the public," he said. Trish Peden, the event chair, said while the obvious attraction will be SENIOR the ribs, the annual event TENNIS PLAYERS now in its third year, is also about bringing together Oakville's familyFREE oriented community for a TO good time. JOIN! It caters to families looking for a day out with great food, lively music FUN... NONand fun activities -- all COMPETITIVE while supporting the local TENNIS community and beyond, she said. Looking to form a "We put an emphasis small group of seniors to on family fun," she said, play round robin doubles twice a week at Hopedale Park noting a midway carnival with rides, a ferris wheel Public Tennis Courts and bumper cars have (at a reasonable hour!) been added to this year's If Interested Phone activities. GEORGE SIBLEY at Ribfest will also feature H: 905-582-3854 · Cell: 705-955-9117 artisans and a market- place, demonstrations, an obstacle course, and a visit from Elsa of Disney's Frozen. Keeping with the successes of last year, it will highlight the Kids' Workshop by The Home Depot, where children can build a project to bring home, and a children's village that has activities for kids of all ages. Live music will also be an attraction with rock band The Retrievers headlining Friday night and Burlington band Bare Blue Sea paying tribute to the best of Canadian music Saturday night. Peden said it was a challenging task whittling the nearly 100 bands that auditioned down to 13 bands that will be featured on stage. The others include Johnny Max & The Heart Attacks, Groove Hammer, The Killin' Time Band, The Retro Rock-It Band, High Rendition Jazz Band, The Argues Family, Little Peter and the Elegants, The Beat Heathens, The Hit Disturbers, The Buddy Love Band and a Sheridan College student performance. For more information including hours, sponsorship, updated entertainment lineups and volunteering, visit www. oakvillefamilyribfest.com.