It has not been made clear either by the City of Oshawa or the Oshawa Rotary Club as to what happens now to the $30,000 grant extended for the event by the city.
Meanwhile, after a year of absence due to loss of venue (see below), the Bowmanville Ribfest is back at its debut location.
Both the Rotary Club and the City of Oshawa have released statements on the event cancellation in Oshawa while citing the grant, but have remained silent on whether it will stay with the Rotary Club or be returned to the city.
“We have supported the event’s growth and success over many years by providing in‑kind services and working closely with Rotary to help them deliver a successful and popular annual event (including approval for a 2026 Community Grant in the amount of $30,000 for in‑kind services),” said a statement issued by the city yesterday.
It pointed out that for the past 25 years, the City of Oshawa has been proud to support the Oshawa Rotary Ribfest, Durham Region’s longest‑running ribfest.
The Rotary Club cited rising operational costs, economic pressures and sponsorship challenges as the “key factors” behind the decision.
Social Media Debate
The cancellation has been a popular topic on social media with some residents saying paid parking for non-registered visitors at the Lakeview Park venue, may have been a contributory factory. Several have not been complimentary about the event mainly critical of food restrictions and pricing.
Meanwhile, the city said Ribfest is one of Oshawa’s signature community events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. Over the past 25 years, the event has raised nearly $1 million, with proceeds reinvested directly into our community through local charities and not‑for‑profit organizations.
City Anticipates Ribfest Return
“While the city is disappointed that Ribfest will not take place this year, we respect the Rotary Club of Oshawa’s decision and look forward to continuing to work together to support the event’s anticipated return in the future,” said a statement.
“We thank the Rotary Club of Oshawa, along with its dedicated Rotarians, volunteers and sponsors, for their decades of service to our community. We value our continued partnership and look forward to welcoming Oshawa Rotary Ribfest back to our city,” it added.
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