The smell of smoke and barbecue sauce is about to take over downtown St. Catharines. The St. Catharines Rotary Ribfest returns to Montebello Park this Civic Holiday long weekend, running Friday, July 31 through Monday, August 3, 2026 — and this year marks the festival's 26th anniversary. It's one of the biggest weekends of the summer in the Garden City, and Pepe Cannabis in St. Catharines is just a short drive away on Read Road if you want to make a stop part of your long weekend plans.
Here's everything you need to know about Ribfest 2026.
What Is St. Catharines Rotary Ribfest?
Ribfest is a four-day community fundraising event hosted by the Rotary Club of St. Catharines in partnership with the City of St. Catharines. Admission to Montebello Park is free, and proceeds from the weekend go directly back into the community — over its 25-year history, the festival has raised money for local charities including Gillian's Place, Niagara Children's Centre, and Community Care.
The Ribbers
The main event: award-winning barbecue teams from across Canada and the US smoking thousands of pounds of ribs and chicken all weekend. This year's lineup includes:
- Bone Daddy's Ribs
- Billy Bones BBQ
- Silver Bullet BBQ
- Camp 31 BBQ
- Uncle Sam's BBQ
Pro tip: go hungry, pace yourself, and don't be afraid to split racks between friends so you can try more than one ribber. Everyone in St. Catharines has a favourite — this is your chance to pick yours.
Beyond the Ribs
Ribfest has grown into a full-on St. Catharines food festival. Around the park you'll also find Billy Bob's Bloomin' Onion and fries, Heist Burgers, TacOasis, Pete's Pizza, Fabulicious Funnel Cakes, Kilties Mini Donuts, Mr. Kettlecorn, Alabama Lemonade, Lemonbar Mocktails, Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream, and Rotary corn on the cob. Licensed beverage sales are available in the park, with proceeds supporting Rotary's charitable work.
Live Music All Weekend
Roughly 35 hours of live entertainment run across the four days at the Montebello Park bandshell — one of the best free live music settings in Niagara. Check @stcatharinesribfest on Instagram for the daily performance schedule.
Family Fun
The 2nd Annual Family Day returns this year, and Niagara Inflatables will be set up in the kids' zone all weekend:
- Friday: 5–8 pm
- Saturday: 12–8 pm
- Sunday: 12–7 pm
- Monday: 12–5 pm
New this year, Mom's Market Collective joins the vendor area alongside returning crafters and community partners.
When & Where
Montebello Park, 64 Ontario Street, downtown St. Catharines
- Friday, July 31
- Saturday, August 1
- Sunday, August 2
- Monday, August 3 (Civic Holiday)
Downtown parking fills up quickly on a festival long weekend, so plan to arrive early, carpool, or take transit if you can.
Swing by Pepe on Your Way
Our Read Road store is about a 10-minute drive from Montebello Park — an easy stop before you head downtown or on your way home. Browse the full St. Catharines menu online to order ahead for quick in-store pickup, and check out pre-rolls, edibles, and vapes while you're at it.
Pepe Cannabis – St. Catharines
532 Read Rd Unit 2, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7K6
(905) 397-1194
A friendly reminder for the long weekend: you must be 19+ to purchase, cannabis can't be consumed everywhere alcohol or tobacco can, and consumption isn't permitted within the festival grounds — know Ontario's public consumption rules and enjoy responsibly.
Plan Your Visit
A few related reads while you're here:
- Best Weed Dispensary in St. Catharines: 2026 Guide — everything about our Read Road store.
- Pepe Cannabis Now Open on Read Road in St. Catharines — how to find us and what to expect.
- Join Pepe's Club — earn rewards every time you shop.
Events like Ribfest are what make St. Catharines summers special — four days of food, music, and community, all raising money for Niagara charities. We'll see you around the neighbourhood this weekend.
For the full schedule and updates, visit stcatharinesribfest.com or follow @stcatharinesribfest on Instagram.
