Lake in the Hills Rockin' Ribfest needs more volunteers

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Lake in the Hills' annual Rockin' Ribfest needs more volunteers to help with this year's 10th anniversary event after a somewhat tough run last year, the event chairwoman said.

Ribfest, hosted each year by the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club, is slated for Thursday through July 12 at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road in the village.

Chairwoman Dot Dustin said it normally takes about 200 volunteers to put on the event and “we’re woefully below that still and need more than 100.”

Those interested can get more information on the Rockin' Ribfest website, lithribfest.com. There are several slots for which people can sign up over the duration of the four-day event.

Celebrating a decade of good food and fun, this year’s festival will host eight “ribbers” and more than three times the number of vendors compared to last year, Dustin said.

She added the headliners include Little Texas on Friday and Hoobastank on Saturday. Ribfest organizers are hoping all of that will attract a crowd – previous events have brought 20,000 people over the four days. Dustin said she’s crossing her fingers after last year’s festival – and the funds garnered from it – was cut short by unfortunate weather.

“We ended up having to close the grounds early,” she said. “We were really financially impacted by that.”

Normally, the event brings about $60,000 to the club, which Dustin said goes toward putting on an entire year’s worth of community service projects. Last year, the festival garnered just about $30,000.

“Our dollars just couldn’t go as far this year,” she said.

Admission for those 13 and older is $5. Kids 12 and younger will get in for free with a paying adult. Active military members with identification also will get in for free.

For more information, visit lithribfest.com.