So I'd been trying to get over to ribfest for the longest. Everyone said it was so much fun. The food was so good. The bands were good. But yet when we went I had very little fun. Went with the boo and we got the beer fest tickets. Went to the festival and none of the beer was actually craft beer. It was blue moon and lenie's, etc. Which as a beer snob I took issue with. All the great beer in Chicago and you couldn't even get one real craft brewery to participate? And for $40? Total waste. I could've just went to the grocery store with my $40 and got the same damn beer without being hurded I'm a small, hot, tent with a bunch of other sweaty and I'm assuming disappointed beer fans. Ridiculous. Then the food was OK. Certainly the one order of ribs we got were worth it. But really kinda pricey and sadly couldn't make up for the disappointing beer fest. The people were rude, the bands weren't great, the view was dusty and underwhelming, the food was blah (save the ribs). All in all a pretty terrible experience and I won't go back. 2 stars are for the ribs. read more

This used to be a very good event. This year something happened. The ribs were just okay, the pulled pork was a bit dry, but the most disappointing part was the problem with the music on Saturday night. It was not loud enough and I've heard other people around me in the VIP tent talking about the same issues. This happened for all three bands that were playing that night. The volume kept going in and out, it sounded muffled at times, and as far as bad company, this should be there goodbye tour. Especially after playing that song called "Happy". That sounded like my six year old granddaughter wrote it. Maybe they figured they are not going to be in Naperville next year so they said the hell with it. As far as the people working for the fest I found them to all be and very nice to talk to. read more

I don't want to write a huge, long review because I think enough has been said. $20 just to get in, yes admission..... Music- Usually pretty good Food- Take a shot in the dark and hope you choose the right place. Worst comes to worse you can try a sauce from another vendor Games- Super over-priced (obviously) but fun for the kids Drinks- $3-$4 for the beer, not a bad price but could be colder Lines are long, porta potties (at your own risk) are plentiful and some free swag. An expensive night out for a family, but only happens once a year. read more

I think Ribfest is great for people to try and say they did it once, but I won't go back next year unless someone is funding my trip. It is all ridiculously overpriced. The only real deal was the souvenir tin mugs for pop that could be refilled for a fraction of the price. There was one particular company, Desperado's BBQ, that impressed me. They had delicious sauces and the beef brisket was finger lickin' good. I would have gone for the beef ribs, but they were outrageously priced, something like $9+ per rib. My partner in crime had pork ribs from supposedly the most award winning of the bunch. They were alright. Nothing special, in my opinion. We tried to stay for one of the concerts; however, it was jam packed hours before it was scheduled to begin. We found a place far away from the stage and people kept crowding us. I'm not normally claustrophobic, but it had me nervous. I attempted to sedate myself with chocolate covered strawberries. It was $5 of disappointment. We finally gave up and left. read more

Never Attending Again! We attended the 4th of July 2018 Naperville Ribfest to see the STRAY CATS, and it was the worst 4th we've ever had in our lives. We had General Admission tickets, and took the Metra from Brookfield to Naperville, then took a free shuttle to the Fest, no problem, great! Once we got there, we couldn't enter through the Gate that was right there, even though we already had our wristbands. We had to lug our two sling chairs, and a bag, which were heavy, all the way around to the other side of the Park (and this is a large venue), in 92 degree temp. They made us take our chairs apart which have detachable umbrellas and foot rests, they're great chairs, that's why they're a little heavier than just a simple sling chair. They searched our bag and took our sun screen and bug repellent, which we needed since we were going to be there all day in 92+ degree full sun, weather, and into the night. And my husband told me he saw a man spraying sun screen on himself inside the Park as we were walking to our seats. When we got to the Entrance for General Admission, and clearly wearing our wristbands, they asked us if we had our tickets!? These were the worst voluntee Then we had to walk all the back to the other side again, to buy food. We didn't know if they would permit us to take our food back to our seats, after the way we were already treated, so we went under the tent to sit and eat. We found two seats which were like GOLD, because they clearly don't have enough seating for people to simply eat, and leave. We volunteer for the Scottish Festival Highland Games in Itasca each year, and we have such a better set up, than Naperville. Outside our porta potties we have porta sinks with soap, water and paper towels. This is a Ribfest, (ultra MESSY) you'd think they'd have the same thing. NO, they have hand sanitizer and no paper towels. Channel 7 News interviewed us while we were waiting in line at Uncle Bubs (our favorite for BBQ, in Westmont), and asked me why we were there, and I said THE STRAY CATS. Then they pointed out that I came prepared. I said yes, we were here last year, so I knew to bring strong plastic ware, and lots of hand wipes. This a Ribfest, and you'd think they'd have water and paper towels, but NO they have hand sanitizer, and no paper towels. Of course that did not make the News. We were suppose to hear the Pete Ellman Brass Quintet Big Band at 2:00 P.M., but they never came on. No one made an announcement apologizing that would not be performing, or why. We got to watch the crew set up for the Buckingham's, who failed to start on time. They were great. Melissa Etheridge started late, performed one song, and said she was told to leave the stage because a storm was coming. They told us we had to leave the Park, and go to the High School across the street until the storm passed, but we could leave our things in place. So we started to walk and the police came through and yelled at us, to gather up all our things, and take it with us, or we might not be able to come back in and get it. So we did, we went outside the Gate, and my husband said we would wait there, or we wouldn't hear when they announced we could re-enter. We were standing there packed like sardines in 92+ degree temps for an HOUR. After 4 false starts, they finally said we could re-enter. That was just as unpleasant as the evacuation. They took down all the fences, which segregated the Standing Room Only, and the VIP seats from General Admission, which I find ridiculous, because the Standing room Only can't bring chairs, yet they pay more, the General Admission has better sightlines than the VIP which pay more than anyone. It's a joke. Melissa Etheridge was fantastic, the band was tight, and she was awesome! They only got to perform 5-6 songs. The Stray Cats came on, and they performed 3 songs, then Brian Setzer announced, they've just told us we have to leave the stage because of lightening, everyone was so disappointed, and requested they do one more song, so they did. Then everyone gathered up their things and headed for the Shuttle Buses, you can imagine what a mess that was. We finally got on one that would take us back to the Naperville Metra Station, where we had to wait 3 hours for the next train back to Brookfield. You would think the city of Naperville could work out a better schedule with Metra for a festival of this size, but they don't. Every half hour would be the norm, even hourly is tolerable, but to have to wait from 8:33 p.m., to 11:33 p.m., on the 4th of July because Metra doesn't care, after the horrendous day and night we had, was a crime. We did not get to see any fireworks, no patriotic music, it didn't even feel like the 4th of July. We will never attend Ribfest again. read more

Will be missed in Naperville. So many great community organizations benefited. So many years of memories.

So, I made my way to Ribfest on a Friday afternoon. I ate....well, it's more like what didn't I eat? Rib sampler from Armadillo's Rib sampler & corn muffin from Sgt. Oink's Deep fried bacon Deep fried snickers Cheese Curds Hot dog Corn dog Curly fries (with cheese...because at this point...what the hell?) No, I did not eat all this by myself. These items were shared except the hot dog - I woofed that down by myself. Someone said I should be beaten with rib bones for eating a HOT DOG at Ribfest but I just couldn't resist the dollar hot dog. I'm a sucker, what can I say? My friends got there a bit earlier than me and decided to sample some corn and ribs from Texas Outlaws. They both enjoyed these and there was not a bone to be found by the time I arrived. The bacon was disappointing. I thought it would be battered and fried - it's not. It's just thrown into a deep fryer. That said - stay clear of the chocolate covered deep fried bacon - it's just fried bacon with chocolate sauce drizzled on it (unless your into that sort of thing then by all means). I was a fan of Sgt Oink's ribs - fall off the bone tender and the sauce was pretty good...but not as good as Armadillo's. My friend Adam was the only one amongst us that had all three ribs (he's a trooper) and he favored Sgt. Oink's. I was glad I went in the afternoon and missed the crowd. There was a looooong time forming when I left at 6:30ish to get in! PS - the deep fried snickers was AWESOME. So wrong but oh-so-right. Deep fried twinkie...I'm coming after YOU next year! read more

Ir has been our annual tradition to have our July 4th celebration here. Its been 5 years.. noticed a couple of things tho... parking became farther and more expensive which they call a donation.. entrance fee is 15$ now which does not include anything. You have to find your own seat in the grounds if the twnts are too crowded.. super fun when its raining and extreme heat... even the ribs get more expensive.. shake up drinks 5$. The only thing that keeps me to come back is me and my best friend's tradition... read more

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Over priced!! We took our kids here for a fun day to enjoy the festivities but found it to be over priced for everything and anything you wanted to buy! Ribs were not good food in general was very mediocre! I feel like we were paying for top shelf products and receiving low quality! It was ridiculous how much a family of 5 had to spend here for lunch! This was not supposed to be a high end restaurant but a family day of fun but the cost was absolutely price gouging! Don't waste your time or money! read more

I LOVE RIBFEST. I really do - the ribs here are sooooo much better than the ribs at the Chicago ribfest, and it's nice that they spread everything out across a huge area. A few of the vendors even have beef ribs (ENORMOUS - so big you just get 1 rib for $9, fatty, and just mouth-wateringly delicious) However. The planning committee needs to seriously re-think some of their policies (like the fact that you might be denied entry if the festival is "too full" - if I drive more than 1 hour to get to Naperville, I want to be guaranteed ENTRY into the festival). Also, their website gives you directions to Martin ave - which by the way has only 1 teensy parking lot where you have to pay $15 to park, and that's only if the lot has any space. For people who don't live in the Naperville area, you should provide a better idea of where the closer parking areas are. Also, you need to buy tickets to enter into the festival area - and the tent where the kids selling the tickets sit is labeled "will call". Not exactly informative or accurate. I waited in line to get my purse checked and then had to go back to buy the tickets. Minor inconvenience, but something that could be avoided with a sign. On a side note, we went opening day at around 12:30 - and the festival was pretty empty! It was the best experience I've had since the lines were short and the ribs were relatively "fresh". Delish. read more

Sigh....where are you Ribfest of last??? Came here on the last day as soon as they opened. I seriously have been looking forward to this since I left it last year. It was a ghost town in there. Not only were there noticeably less vendors but also less people. Plus, it was hott as $&@!? On to the ribs. I was able to try Armadillo's pulled pork sandwich, Desperado's ribs, Johnson's ribs and Texas Outlaw's brisket sandwich. The food was all amazing but HOOOLLYYY Mother did I have the best ribs from DESPERADO's!!!!! Ever!!! They won te day before for 2 place for ribs but def should have taken home the whole thing. I will still go next year to ribfest but my illusion of the fest has a slightly sour note to it. Food was still great! read more

Proud of my city that they can host such a huge festival year after year! This is one to be proud of as it requires immense planning and resources to pull off successfully and memorably. If you love crowds and very loud music, this is for you! Tons of bands there to entertain. Yup, tons of carnival food and some rides too. Sugary, oily, carb laden, fattening snacks. My favorite are the elephant ears. Plus, all of the ribs that you can imagine! With that said, I don't come every year. This is the place that I bring all of my out of town guests. It always brings great memories from the remote parking lots and highly efficient bus transport to the venue site to the excitement of tasting multiple stands of ribs and sides, to the always scorching sun and heat and tired feet. Always great times and great memories! Congrats Naperville for another amazing Ribfest! See you soon! read more

How is it that no one has reviewed Ribfest in Naperville? I've seen a few posts on yelp about going to Ribfest. Alright, well I'll start the chain. Feel free to chime in. Growing up in Naperville I've been to Ribfest like a thousand times and I continue to go back every year during July 4th weekend for their awesome ribs. In the past I typically could not remember the name of the vendors that I purchased the ribs from and just got in the longest line figuring that would be the best ribs. This year I made a conscience effort to remember the names of the best vendors. Top Pick - Pigfoot. The name is quite deceiving. I'm thankful my friends decided to try them. Their sauce is extremely spicy and I loved it. The ribs were very tender as well. 2nd Favorite - Armadillos. Their ribs were also drenched in their tasty rib sauce. 3rd Favorite - Texas Outlaws. The ribs here are also excellent. If I haven't had the other two, then this would be my favorite. Least Liked - Desperado's. The ribs were overcooked and too dry to really enjoy. Other tasty treats I never leave without getting are the chocolate covered strawberries or chocolate covered bananas. Yum yum yum. The fresh lemonade there is great too. I recommend getting the large size and refilling because you can easily get dehydrated at the event. It's quite refreshing in the blazing heat. The general admission for Ribfest at the door was $10 this year. The pre-sale admission tickets are discounted by $2 at Jewel. You can buy tickets the same day too if they're not sold out. The participating Jewel I go to is located on Ogden and Washington Street. read more

Like any other festival, it is crowded, hot and overpriced. But also, an experience to be had! My friend and I parked by North Central College and walked to Ribfest. Didn't know where shuttles were. $10 to get in. We shared coconut shrimp ($8 for 5), very tasty! Then, we got corn ($3) and oh man was that good! I grabbed a Leinenkugel Honey Weiss($6) and got some ribs from Pigfoot. So I've heard of Ribfest. I'm not a fan of ribs. It just feels like there's not enough meet. I decided to come to Ribfest and try again. I was blown away with Pigfoot's. So tender and soft, and the sauce is out of this world. Tangy, sweet, hot! They have a few flavors. $6 for 1/4 rack, $12 for half, $21 for a full rack. For desert, I had a (HUGE!) chocolated dipped bananas with peanuts. Tasty. You could get this food for much cheaper at actual restaurants, but it's really all about the experience and the novelty. read more

Hot. Kids. Ribs. Crowds. Overpriced BBQ. Dated bands. $12 to get in to pay more for questionable fair food? My favorite part was drinking my $8 beers with the dads while the kids ran themselves silly in the bounce houses. After making eye contact with the other dads, we all shared the same looks of approval. read more

Hi, we wanted to go to the RibFest this year it would have been our first time. I read up on the website which recommended parking in the remote lots. I stopped off at Jewel and bought tickets ahead of time. We parked at Naperville North HS and got in a huge line for the free shuttle and then we waited... And waited. There were probably 150 folks ahead of us, and after 20 minutes or so 1 bus came. Then nothing. So after 30-40 minutes we decided to sell our tickets and go out to eat. I am sure the food would have been great, but there must have been some logistics problem in the shuttles. Maybe this thing has just grown to big too fast. We went out to eat at Uncle Bub's in Westmont (who was also at the fest). The food there was great. I told the manager our story and he told me that we were about the 10th family who told him the same thing that night. Just a word to the wise (or wiser). Perhaps next time to go way way earlier, or just walk. Or, save some more money and just go out to eat where you can sit and enjoy it. 'mark read more

Worst experience in 10 years. They just got lazy this year. And greedy. Service was terrible. Girl at the busiest vendor openly admitted to messing up our order and overcharging us, then charged us again. Was told to get alcohol wristband from Tent A, then get drink tickets from Tent B, then buy beer from Tent A (brilliant) Logistical nightmare. We tried to leave from the entrance we entered through, and were told to go to another exit. Only to wait for the gate to open, and later see ppl leaving from the original exit we tried to exit from. We were on the first bus out, which was hot, and took forever to leave because there was obvious miscommunication which we could hear over radio chatter. I've been going forever, but no way in hell will I be attending next year. Should've stayed at home. read more

First I'd like to say that this was completely false advertising for this event. We paid $875.00 for 5 VIP tickets to see Steven Tyler. We had to walk to the far end of the grounds, that was the farthest away from the tent to receive our "free" meal. When it was time for Steven Tyler to play, we than had to walk back across the grounds, only to be told that we had the wrong wristbands. So we had NO access to the front of stage and stood with the people who paid $20.00 to access the park. It was a horrible experience that we will never fall for again!!! read more

RIBS, RIBS and more RIBS! It's kinda expensive... $12 each to get in but it goes to a good cause, so I can't be to upset. We parked in the parking garage with lots of free parking at 11:30am and walked to the fest. There was a huge line waiting to get in but wasn't to crowed when we first got there. Tried Ribs at 3 different vendors and a little bit of brisket, all pretty good. My fav Ribs were Desperados. Was a little upset I spent $9 on cheese fries that were meant for a big group and I only ate a quarter of it, the prices weren't posted. No where to really sit except one tent with maybe about 10 tables with chairs. I could have sworn that the tent with tables was bigger previous years... They should really invest in the portable sinks by the portal pottys, so people can wash the ribs sauce off their hands! Very loud, crowed and hot! Stayed about an hour and a half. But over all the food was yummy! read more

Bought VIP tickets, which would have gotten u to the front of the stage area to see Sammy Hagar. Knowingly, they sold us "Front of stage" tickets for another $112 that we didn't need through their online ticketing application/company "Event Sprout". To this day, they say they are "looking into it". This is NOT worth the money. Lots of people there - sure - but the value for the money isn't there...and they sold me a redundant pair of tickets. Lousy tap beer...cheap booze...difficult access....and crummy food. Ouch. Sammy Hagar and the Circle are an incredible band. read more

When you think of ribs or a cookout--I think of Texas. Everything is bigger and badder. Right? Ribfest is basically a fair on steroids. Food Steroids--with a Texan frame of mind. Give a town some BBQ, Carnie Rides, Beer and a closed off gate--well you've found heaven for a lot of people. Getting inside of the gates was super easy, there is a good system in place and I would highly recommend stopping the Jewel and picking up your tickets in advance. The lines stack up, and are manageable but why not be prepared. There are so many people, so many booths it's hard to even know where to start. Considering it was hosted at Knoch Park, they land was used to utmost potential, and there was plenty of space for the soundstages and seating as well as the booths. Pretty impressed with this, because it was packed but not squashed like a sardine packed. The lines can be a bear, if you're willing to wait it out the food is worth it. Beer--if you walk to some of the other stands away from the 'main paths' you won't have to battle a long line. Problems, easily solved with that bad boy! Overall, I liked Ribfest and would go back to see an actual cookout. Prices are definitely reasonable. A fun day out, and like I was telling a friend when describing the layout...it's like the mafia--once you find your way, it's hard to get out. read more

After skipping this event in 2008, I decided to give Ribfest another try on it's 2009 opening night last night. The experience just wasn't as much fun as I remember from years past. If you plan to arrive in the evening, don't expect to be able to park anywhere close to the fest. Parking issues are nothing new, but if you are planning to take advantage of the remote parking/shuttle service advertised on their website, be forewarned that the information is inaccurate - we waited almost 20 minutes for a shuttle from the advertised North Central College pick-up location before deciding to hoof it over instead. We found out later that web site was incorrect, the shuttle information was from last year & not correctly updated for 2009. So if you are thinking of shuttling from anywhere other than the downtown Naperville train station lot, be aware that you may end up waiting a long time for a bus that will probably never come. Used to be quite the rare occurance when they'd reach capacity & have to shut the gates - which would happen only if they were lucky to book a semi-relevant contemporary act like Hootie and his Blowfish. Nowadays I guess sellouts are the rule rather than the exception - we were lucky to get in just before they closed the gates - on a Thursday night, where the no-longer-so-relevant-or-contemporary Heart was headlining. As a result we ended up sitting way in the back 40, behind a bunch of folks who could have cared less about the music. I could have been very forgiving about the general hassle & atmosphere had the food been outstanding, but the BBQ fare from my favorite Ribfest vendors was just disappointing. Johnsons' ribs were undercooked and tough - we fared just a bit better at Texas Outlaws but their ribs were a little bit crusty & overdone. We weren't sure who to feel more sorry for - ourselves, for taking the effort to come out there, or Heart, who pretty much ruled the rock world in the 70s/80s and now was playing at a suburban meat festival. To be fair, Ribfest does offer up some of the better low-rent "oldies" music fare in the area this summer. If my weekend schedule permitted, I'd totally put up with the lackluster ribs and annoying crowds again to come back for Todd Rundgren this weekend. But, if I decide to give Ribfest another chance next year, I think I'll stick to the plan that used to work so well for me - arrive early, wait in shorter lines for your ribs, soak up some sun & enjoy the obscure afternoon bands, then high-tail it outta there before it starts getting crazy. read more

I'm that girl in the crowd that everyone seems to push over in their quest to get where they are going. And it is for this reason, I am not such the fan of large crowds. I typically don't get too anxious to attend fests such as this. However, I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and when they expressed a desire to hit Ribfest, I went with the flow. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Okay, so here's the gist - where their lines? Yes but I felt they moved pretty quickly. Was there about a bizzion people there? Yes, but I never once felt smashed, wedged, stepped on or otherwise ran over. The crowds were calm and - here's the clincher - ORGANIZED! The clear of loitering. You couldn't stand still or sit in the pathways which kept the flow moving great. And the strategic placement of said pathways helped give people a clear route to their destination, thus leaving me alone to enjoy my food, music and friends. Now as my friends will tell you (as they lovingly make fun of me), I have an issue with eating meat still on the bone. So there is just one more reason Ribfest really hadn't hit my radar until this year. I was again pleasantly surprised by the other options available. I thoroughly enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and even devoured an ice cream - hey, it's was the forth of July and HOT HOT HOT. Unfortunately, we we rained out about two hours before the fireworks were scheduled to begin. And I'm not talking a few sprinkles. It out and out poured for ten minutes soaking us head to toe. Not knowing what temps the storm was bringing behind it, we opted to head out, feeling a little chilled due to our sopping wet clothes. Oh well, it is certainly not the fault of the event itself. Fests during the summer will always be a risk. And because we got rained out this year, it is just a good excuse to come back next year for another shot! read more

Drove in from the city on friday 7/3/09. Zero traffic there and back, very pleased. Likes: *A lot of different vendors, much bigger than I thought it was going to be *Family area with rides (though I don't have kids, i can see how this could be a plus) *Variety of food, not just ribs and bbq *Free parking, free shuttles, not a long wait for shuttles (aka school buses) *Everything was very tasty! Dislikes: *Expensive! $10 entry at the door. The Jewel thing didn't help since all the Jewels with the discounted tickets were in the burbs. *Expensive! The cheapest thing at a lot of places was $6-8 for just 3 ribs! Wish it were more like the Ribfest on Lincoln ave - just a few $ for a couple of ribs so you can try everything. We only tried 4 places because we got full fast! *Hand sanitizer was out pretty much everywhere. It was only 2pm on Friday? I don't know how they handled the crowd on the 4th. We were starving when we got there so we went to the first place we saw which was right at the front. Long line so it had to be good (especially when the place right next to it had no line). Then we walked to the main area, and saw ALL of the vendors lined up with the huge banners of "Best ribs this" and "Best ribs that" but don't forget to look at the fine print of "3rd place" etc. read more

Naperville Ribfest might be the largest of its kind in the Chicago area. This weekend long event has everything to offer. Tickets for admission go on sale a couple months or so before the 4th of July holiday in which this event takes place. You can also purchase tickets "at the door" at a higher price. Depending on when you attend you will have many options for parking. Most options charge $10 and some a little more expensive. If you are a parking expert like me you will find where the free parking is in the surrounding neighborhoods. I wouldn't risk this as a novice but it is certainly possible to find parking if you try hard enough. I have come twice now and paid the first time but I was able to find a free spot during the day on my second visit. This festival has everything. Food Drinks Music Carnival Games Rides Literally everything. The festival takes place in Knoch Park and the grounds are huge. There is one area for the live music where they have some finger food and drinks. The other part of the festival is located just across the street. Here you have all of the top rib and bbq selections. This is where the carnival is located with all of the games and rides. If you come during peak hours you can expect some long lines and large groups of people. People bring their own lawn furniture to sit and eat or to enjoy music. There are a few picnic benches but you will find the grass just as convenient. Be sure to grab as many napkins and wet wipes as you can as they only have hand sanitizer at the port o pottie sections. Naperville Ribfest is really a great experience and is a must try for everyone in the Chicago area. read more

A little messy, crowded, and crazy but oh so much fun. If you are in the area, it's well worth your time--just make sure you leave early on July 4th or risk getting stuck in the bus to the parking lot for two hours! A variety of rib vendors provide all sorts and types of BBQ, there's something for vegetarians if they don't mind fried food. Great lemonades, fries, chips, corn, and even gyros type food for those who can't enjoy beef or pork. Don't miss the elephant ears/funnel cake :) I always look for the Oberweis counter. Some local groups also sell fruit. Funds go to charity. Make it a day or evening and bring folding chairs and/or a blanket to sit al fresco and enjoy some good music. read more

Wow, worst fest ever..talk about an expensive day. Plan on spending over $100 for two people. We only got the basics: parking $10, entrance fee $60, whole slab of ribs with sides $35, beer $8 (for like 8oz), and coke like $4. Plus some desserts on the way out. On top of that, we stood in one line for 20 minutes. Not coming back again. read more

After 15 years of going to ribfest my new favorite is 2 fat boys ribs. The ribs were not parboiled tasting and were juicy with a good char. The sauce was a great balence of rich but not too sweet. My only disappointment (in ribfest in general) is that in the last couple years they decided to get rid of the hand washing stations and replace them with hand sanitizer stations. I'm not into washing my hands with a pesticide and it's not about killing germs anyway. (as it's more about getting all the sticky mess off) They have also gotten rid of most of the seating that they used to have, so it's very difficult to find somewhere to sit and eat your ribs. (Eating ribs on a blanket works but is a little more difficult) We typically go at noon and we miss all the crowds which can be another big issue. (huge rib lines being the main problem in the evenings) read more

Okay, you get to see some very big names for like $20-$25 ea. I typically pay $75-$125 to see big name shows. Hugo's has a tent, the sliders are awesome, I believe Sullivan's does too. Anyways, good day with some awesome samplers. I am kind of a rib snob, so I haven't even bothered going to the rib tasting side yet. Usually if I want ribs I go to Smoque BBQ on Irving & Pulaski. I like dry rub ribs, and just wait and make a point to go there if in the mood. It's an awesome even hosted by the city at an extremely affordable ticket cost. Bring chairs or a blanket and enjoy yourself. Pretty straight forward. read more

Only come if you're all about Ribs and it's a tradition for you. I have grown up in Naperville so this was the thing to do with your family or in high school with your friends. You may 10 bucks for parking, and then you pay 6.5 bucks for beer (using tickets worth 7) and you buy sticky ribs and try your best to eat them in the hot weather. I don't mean to sound so negative, but I would rather use all that money to go to the finest 'rib' restaurant in town and enduldge. Other than that, they have rides for children, delicious ice-cream and lemonade spots. You can pay 90 or something dollars and get unlimited foods and drinks and ribs but that is still outside and when we went on a Sunday, it was dead in there. I would rather even just walk around downtown Naperville instead of going to Ribfest. I guess if you like the line up of the bands it's cool to see them too. read more

Great 4th of July event for the family! Great food, games, and concerts. Many times they get some great old bands you used to listen too. Come for the ribs, stay for the good times! read more

My first time at the naperville ribfest and I left with a stomach so full I was surprised I could walk. I'm feeling like this review might be really excessive so I'll just bullet point my favorites- - the music was great! I mean, Sheryl crow, three doors down, sister hazel. Bring me back to the 90s-00s! - obviously, the food. But not just the ribs! Of course desperados was magnificent but the corn, cheese fries, chocolate dipped cheesecake (mouth watering) all made for a great variety for everyone. - carnival games! Who doesn't love spending $40 to win a fish that usually dies within a day? - finally, the atmosphere. Very fun environment. The crowd was relaxed and not rowdy while I was there. Wow that statement made me sound so old. The only complaint I have is they should be more prepared for the size crowd they bring in. Lines were long for everything! Opening up a few more lanes makes a world of difference. read more

Get ready for an admission price increase in 2012. Most of the classic rock acts appearing will be $20.00 or more a ticket. Kids will be free with each paid adult, so if you have more kids than adults, you'll have to pay for each kid. And if the admission price has increased be prepared for an increase in concessions, not like it was cheap last year. A great alternate this year will be the Blues on the Fox in Aurora. $5.00 to get in (Kenny Wayne Sheppard this year!) and about $5.00 a beer. Not bad, and you'll actually get a place to sit as well. read more

I LIVE for the Naperville Ribfest. To really enjoy it, you need to bring the following (I've been coming every year for the last 5 years, so I kinda know what I am talking about): - Blankets, mats to sit on and lay down for a nap after eating all those ribs - Folding Chairs - more comfy than sitting on the ground - H20 and plenty of it. It's pricey to buy it there. Just make sure none of the bottles are opened. Find a nice open spot sit down and take it all in and pick where you want to go!! I didn't care too much about the layout this year (2010). It was horrible and I hope they change it back. They did a north, south seating arrangement and I believe the South is were the main stage was and if you sat there, you would have hated the ribfest unless you truly went to see the entertainment. There was ZERO room to stretch out and relax and it was a sea of people sitting in chairs. The north side was so much more of the typical relaxing atmosphere where you can lay out and chill. What sucks is that they closed off the south side due to capacity so you weren't able to get to some of the rib joints like The Australian Ribs and Pig Feet. Hopefully they complain because if everyone was just watching the concert... they probably stopped eating. Pig Feet is great, I love Armadillos though, that is my favorite ;) Can't wait until next year!! read more

I just went to this festival on July 4th for the first time. I had heard about it for quite a while and many people had said it was a good time while warning me about the huge amount of people. Along with me were my wife, parents, and a couple of cousins. A great time was had by all. There was a tremendous amount of people but it was handled well and great food, drink, and great people most importantly are a great mix. Complaints: - The $12 fee to get in was a bit excessive. - Ribfest organizers are HARDCORE about checking your bags (even chair bags) to make sure you are not hiding food or drink. If you have a can or even bottle of water and the find it they will make you throw it out. Definitely do NOT bring a cooler. - The music could have been a lot more diverse. 95% of the acts were country or some mix of rock country. The most rock you were going to get was Blue Oyster Cult. Some hip hop fusion, or world music (fusion), even some harder rock, would have livened things up a lot and made things more palatable for all musical persuasions and people. - I agree with the previous reviewer that due to the growing pains of the fest the geography of it was not the best. It would have been nice to have all the vendors in one spot and all the music in another. Tips. - Get there when the park first opens up (at 12 pm as of 2010) and grab a good place and then do not move! - If you get there later than 1:00 pm do yourself a favor and park in one of the remote parking lots with shuttle service Naperville offers. You will thank yourself. And yes, when we were there at least the shuttles were great! - Make sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on (preferably a chair) because like everyone else says no matter how hot outside you WILL get wet (plus it is just more comfortable. read more

First year going to Rib Fest since I saw that my favorite blues singer, Jonny Lang, was playing this year. Each time he's at the HOB I am too busy to go or out of town so I made sure I made it out to Ribfest to see him mainly. Due to that this review is a bit bias since I am a big fan of his and was Super Happy he was there! :D I did get some ribs, since I had gone right after work and needed to eat yet I thought there would be more food tents or that the lines would actually move better then they did. Ribs were worth the wait but I wish I could've gotten a sampler from more than one place since I spent 20 mins in line at one stand on a Thursday night. :( It was good and I was happy that since it was the first day, and most people (like myself) had to work Friday, it wasn't too packed. I might go again next year, we will have to see what bands they have. Although this years lineup was very impressive and had a good mix of well known artists! read more

Plan Ahead People !!! I went Saturday to hear Kenny Wayne Shepherd. $9 tickets at Jewel. Where else can you go to an outdoor concert and see a quality band for $9.00?? Of course it will be crowded. Get there around 3 or 4:00, set up your chairs, go get some food, check out the park, and come back for the concert. No one is forcing you to buy $5 beers. It's optional. I haven't seen an outdoor concert yet with beer specials. I've been to too many bars paying a $10 cover for a mediocre band and $12 martini's with no room to sit. I thought this was a refreshing change of pace. There were a couple of booths with sausage and burger samples. My buddy did the Man vs. Food challenge with hot wings, and we snagged a few frisbees. I had a 3 rib "taster" with sides for $7. The ribs were meaty and good. An Oberwiess ice cream for $2. Are the prices better at Summer Fest or Taste of Chicago...I don't think so. Plus, all the proceeds go to charity. read more

We went to Ribfest for our first time Wed. July 3. Pros vs. Cons: Cons: $15 to get in is a bit steep for a summer fest. Waiting in line for 20 minutes for dried out ribs. There are no "taste" portions so we only sampled 2 of the maybe 15 vendors ribs They really need picnic tables to eat the ribs. Sitting on the grass is gross $5 for a carnival game Pros: They could have gouged you more than $5 for a Miller Lite??? We would maybe go back with a group of people but would never go back to just experience the ribs. It was ribfest but the ribs were dried out. read more

Well for this July 4th, the "Human Labyrinth" was the first thing my hubby and I started off with. It was a nice workout! As other Yelpers mentioned, its good to do your research online for the Ribfest, cause that did save us some money by showing up after 7:30 pm, so we did NOT pay the entrance fee. 1st we visited Uncle Bub, then Sergeant Oinks, and Robinsons Ribs. Uncle Bubs food: The pulled pork sandwich was ok, tasty barbeque sauce, and cooked well. The half slab ribs were kind of dry, but tasty. The cornbread....YOU HAD ME AT BLAHHHHH..... BABY BYE...under cooked and had corn in it. Sergeant Oinks: EXCELLENT pulled pork sandwiches, seasoned very well and really didn't need to add any barbeque sauce, even though the sauce tasted good too. The cornbread muffin...WTH??? My grandma needs to come teach folks how to bake cornbread properly! The muffin was undercooked. Robinsons Ribs: NOW WE'RE TALKIN BABY! The 1/3 ribs tasted great! You could taste and smell the sweet mesquite smoked wood that reminded me of my grandma's barbequed meat. However, the barbeque sauce...OH HELL NAW...YUCK! That kind of threw my taste buds off some. All in all: It was fun and we enjoyed the Fest. read more

Headed over to Ribfest on the third and had a really good time. Word to the wise. Get the discount tickets ahead of time. North gate line was super long. We trotted over to the south gate and was pleasantly surprised that the line was next to nothing. Yay for my lady friends call on that one. Get tickets ahead of time, save three bucks and don't wait in line. Once inside we grabbed a map of the layout and started looking around. The inside is actually well set up, easy to navigate and get around. We grabbed a couple drinks, ate some great BBQ and watched some great music. All in all very well done for a fest of that size. Room for improvement: Parking was hit or miss. Really need to work on that for sure. Secondly, when you take our tickets check our ID's and give us a wrist band for drinks. We got inside and wanted to sample a wine at one of the vendors and had to trek over to one of the beer gardens to get our wrist band. Definitely going back next year. read more