The ultimate bbq faceoff in Mission this August 2024 Long Weekend! Award winning BBQ from all over BC come together with local vendors, Re/max, and lawn games. Each Pit Master has their own sauces competing for the top spot, and we get to try them all!
We have been to the Langley Ribfest last year and while it was very good…it was also VERY busy and not dog friendly. Mission Ribfest is still busy, but the smaller venue and regulated tickets make a much more laid-back and relaxed affair. The best part? Skye got to come, too! A dog friendly Ribfest – can you believe it?
Hosting the familiar faces of Gator BBQ, Boss Hogs, and Smoke Dem Bones that you see in the Langley fest. Mission also welcomes Grizzly, Prairie Smoke and Spice, and GuerillaQ to the face off.
The FOOD!
We got the creamy Mac and Cheese from Gator BBQ. Then hit up Grizzly for some delicious Honey Butter Cornbread. Sample all the sauces to pick your favorite for chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket, pork or beef ribs. We ended up going back to Grizzly for the Beast Feast platter! A 1/3 of a chicken, 1/2 rack of pork ribs, 1/2 rack beef ribs, and 1lb of pulled pork – Beast Feast fed four of us!
Every BBQ pit had delicious meats! We loved Gator BBQ pork at Langley, the juicy chicken this weekend we enjoyed was from Grizzly. Check the combos to sample different meats and sides! It was so good we forgot to get a before picture! Finger lickin’ good is right for this one.
Skye definitely approved of Grizzly’s chicken and Gators Mac and Cheese. She was loving the table schnibbles we dropped for her. She is pretty good about not taking food off the table but this tested her limits!
It’s not all BBQ though. Mixed throughout the grounds are also the ever delicious Beaver Tails (Oreo and Reece’s Pieces are some killer tails!). There’s Poutine from the Big Chip Truck and ice cream floats for the Tin Cow Creamery. If you really want to try a festival favorite, hit up the Twisted Potatoes or Street Dogs.
Quench your thirst with some hand squeezed lemonade from Chappy’s. And for those wanting a cold beer/cider, or white claw, head towards the little brewery tents.
We enjoyed some spiked lemonade, Dukes hard Cider, and the boys got a couple lagers. And the pups? Well most of the BBQ pits had water bowls out for the pooches too!
Market, Music, and Activities
There is even a little artisan market boasting local artisans to BC! Vancouver Island Jerky, handmade hair accessories for girls, make your own hats and custom tumblers, candles and soaps, pepper jellies, and even puppy coats and dog walking bags! There really is something for everyone at Mission Ribfest.
But I bet you’re thinking about the kids now. Well, how about some crazy lawn games and climbing wall to get some of that energy out! With checkers, corn holes, connect four, and horseshoes, there’s no shortage of games for kids and adults to play! A large climbing wall is also set up alongside 2 bouncy castles to get physically active with! We got to the festival right at opening expecting line ups and were pleasantly surprised to see people meander in. It meant nothing was so busy that you had to wait forever for!
Live music is scheduled to begin at 5pm with the Dani Black Band. Enjoy the musical mash ups of DJ Tony Diz until Dani Black Band takes the stage at 5pm August 4, 2024. Then on Monday, Steve Marriot plays from 1-2pm. The award for Best BBQ is from 2 to 2:30. Then DJ Tony Diz takes us to 4pm. Then Cat Murphy Band takes over to close out the festival until 7pm.
Re/max has tents set up through the park with tables and chairs under them for sitting and eating. There is no shortage of space and the stage up front? Take in some live music later in the evening!
Logistics (Parking and tickets)
Parking and tickets are FREE! Yes you see that? FREE!
How many events do you go to that you need to put out money for before getting in the door? $5 for parking, $10 for a ticket, then all your costs inside the market/fair. Well not here. Mission Ribfest is an entry by donation. Parking is abundant and free and your only real expense is what you eat! How awesome is that?
Take it home!
Before you leave the festival, make sure you take home a bottle of your favorite sauce – if they have any left! The Girls from Prairie Smoke and Spice are happy to help you! Believe it or not, GuerillaQ wasn’t selling their sauce half the weekend. They have had to start on site bottling because so many people wanted it! Check out GuerillaQ to see what all that hubbub is about! We brought home 2 bottles of favorites! Prairie smoke and the GuerillaQ!
Ribfest is still going until 9pm August 4 and Monday August 5 from 11am to 7pm. Get your tickets and get in on the smokin’ good time of the summer!
If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend check out the Mission Rib Fest!
(Picture: The Prairie Smoke and Spice team all the way from Regina with Skye)
ASR Adventures 