A popular suburban rib festival which typically takes place in summer will not be held in 2024, according to reports.
According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, Ribfest will not take place this year. The Tribune confirmed the news with the event's organizer, the Exchange Club of Naperville.
In a report from the Daily Herald, Emy Trotz, president of the Exchange Club of Naperville, said the event had not been planned or scheduled for 2024.
This year would have marked the 35th year of the fest. It is clear residents will miss what’s become, for many, a family tradition.
“It was always well attended. A lot of good times,” Wheaton resident John Goble said.
The Exchange Club of Naperville did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's request for comment.
This year would have marked the iconic summertime festival's 35th year. Typically held in Naperville over the Fourth of July weekend, the event in 2022 was moved to the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. In 2022, the festival was held in June, and in 2023, it was held in September, according to the event website.
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In 2023, the festival also implemented a $5 entry fee, the website said.
In 2021 and 2020, Ribfest was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, organizers said at the time.
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A Naperville spokesperson confirmed to NBC Chicago that the event hadn't been held in Naperville since 2019. The manager of the DuPage County Fairgrounds also confirmed to NBC Chicago that the venue followed up with the Exchange Club to get a date on the books for 2024, but did not receive a response.
Jim McGuire, the manager and CEO who helped put the event on, said the organization enjoyed the event but that they were forced to move forward.
“We enjoyed the 2 years we had with them here,” McGuire said. “The event ran very smoothly here; it worked out well and parking and everything was very good. But without hearing back from them, we just moved forward.”
