Ribfest Returns To North Center In June With 21 Bands And A Whole Lot Of Meat; Here’s The Whole Lineup

NORTH CENTER — Enjoy twenty-one live bands playing everything from honky tonk to indie jams alongside billowing wood smoke, delicious ribs and more at this year’s Ribfest.

Now in its 21st year, North Center’s annual Ribfest kicks off on June 14, taking over Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Berteau Avenue.

On June 14, the gates open at 5 p.m. and the festival will run through 10 p.m. On June 15 and June 16, Ribfest will run from noon to 10 p.m.

Gate donations are $10 per person and $20 per family. VIP tickets start at $50 which includes a phone charging station, a private air-conditioned restroom trailer and and the ability to jump to the front of the drink line every time.

Credit: Courtesy Steven E. Gross/ North Center Chamber of Commerce

Nearly 30 vendors will be at Ribfest including Austin’s Texas Lightning, Base Hit BBQ, BBQ King Smokehouse, Big Joes Backyard BBQ, Chicago BBQ Co., Chicago Q, City Barbeque, Famous Dave’s, Fireside Restaurant, Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, Porkchop, Real Urban Barbecue, Ribs1 BBQ & “Bangers,” Wrigley BBQ and more.

The full food line-up can be found here.

Ribfest Chicago is sponsored by the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce and proceeds from the event will benefit neighborhood philanthropy and community programs.

Credit: Steven E. Gross/North Center Chamber of Commerce

This year’s headliner is Post Animal and other artists playing to festivals two stages over the weekend include The Dip, San Cisco, The Coathangers, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Ruby Boots.

The full line-up includes:

Friday, June 14
Emcee: Lincoln Lodge

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 5 p.m.: Pool Holograph
• 7 p.m.: Blue Dream
• 9 p.m.: The Coathangers

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 6 p.m.: Goose Corp.
• 8 p.m.: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Saturday, June 15

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Kids Programming – Kids South Stage Irving
  • 12 p.m.: Dave Hamilton
  • 12:30 p.m.: Trinity Irish Dancers
  • 1 p.m.: CircEsteem   
• 2 p.m.: Fargo
• 4 p.m.: CASE   
• 6 p.m.: Family of Geniuses
• 8 p.m.: San Cisco

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Kids Programming – Kids North Stage Berteau
  • 12 p.m.: DJ Matt Roan
  • 12:30 p.m.: Old Town School of Folk Music
  • 1:15 p.m.: Junior Ninja Warriors  
• 3 p.m.: The Long Lost
• 5 p.m.: Jordanna
• 7 p.m.: Fort Frances
• 9 p.m.: The Dip

Sunday, June 16

South Stage (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Kids Programming – Kids South Stage Irving
  • 12 p.m.: Junior Ninja Warriors
  • 1 p.m.: Stu Jacobson
• 2:30 p.m.: Woongi
• 430 p.m.: Girl K
• 5:30 p.m.: Celebrity Rib Judging
• 7 p.m.: TBA
• 9 p.m.: Post Animal

North Stage (4165 N. Lincoln Ave.)

• 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Kids Programming – Kids North Stage Berteau
  • 12 p.m.: Da Source
  • 12:30 p.m.: Trinity Irish Dancers
  • 1 p.m.: CircEsteem
• 2 p.m.: The Black Oil Brothers
• 4 p.m.: Edward David Anderson’s Black Dirt Revival
• 6 p.m.: Parsonsfield
• 8 p.m.: Ruby Boots

An easy way to get there is taking either the CTA’s 50 and 80 buses, which stop at Damen and Irving Park. The nearest CTA train station is the Brown Line’s Irving Park stop.

For more information about this year’s Ribfest visit Ribfest-Chicago.com.

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