Toronto 
Who doesn’t love delicious, juicy ribs?
Credit: Town of Aurora
If that sounds like your kind of meal, Aurora’s Ribfest is the perfect place to satisfy the craving.
Known as the town’s ultimate celebration of flavour, Ribfest brings together the best tastes of the year.
From Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30, Machell Park transforms into a hub of smoky grills, sticky fingers, and plenty of sauce. It’s a weekend dedicated to ‘ribs, bibs, and sauce,’ a true feast for food lovers of all ages.
The park will be fenced, with additional procedures in place to ensure the safety of attendees, performers, vendors, volunteers, and staff. Or
What to See, Do & Eat:
- Ribs: Four rib teams will be firing up their grills over the weekend: Billy Bones BBQ, Camp 31 BBQ, Sticky Fingers BBQ and Uncle Sam’s BBQ. There is also a competitive side to the weekend. Professional Rib Judging is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sunday, giving the teams a chance to see how their barbecue measures up.
- Other Foods: If barbecue is not what you are after, you will have several other options, including roasted yams and roasted corn on the cob. Food vendors include Beavertails, Bubble Tea & Me, Billy Bobs Bloomin’ Onion, Churricos, Mister Softee, Mr Kettle Corn, Ontario Corn Roasters, Slushy Bear and Tiny Tom Donuts.
- Beer Gardens: The Rotary Club of Aurora will operate the beer garden throughout the weekend. It opens Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.
- Fun Activities: There are a few ways to take a break from the food.
- Bullseye Axe Throwing runs Friday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- For younger visitors, the Kid Zone will be open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Sunday also wraps up with the 2026 Aurora Teen Idol at 6:45 p.m.
- Live Entertainment:
- Music starts Friday with Desire, a U2 tribute, at 5:30 p.m., followed by headliner Dwayne Gretzky at 9 p.m.
- Saturday begins with From the Hip, a Tragically Hip tribute, at 11 a.m., followed by Duvet at 1:15 p.m., Sheer Heart Attack at 3:30 p.m. and Monkey Wrench at 5:45 p.m. Headliner Big Wreck takes the stage at 9 p.m.
- On Sunday, you can catch Vinyl Flux at 11 a.m., Run 2 You at 1 p.m. and Gold Dust Woman at 3:30 p.m.
Aurora Ribfest – Trip Planning
What: Aurora Ribfest features the tastiest ribs, roasted yams, corn on the cob, beavertails, and more. There is also a jam-packed lineup with musical acts on the entertainment stage.
When:
August 28 to 30, 2026
Friday | 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Beer Garden – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Bullseye Axe Throwing – 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday | 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Beer Garden – 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Kid Zone – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bullseye Axe Throwing – 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Beer Gardens – 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Kid Zone – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where:
Machell Park, 24 Aurora Heights Drive, Aurora
How Much: Free; cost applies to food and some activities.
