Motors and Muscles has some yummy company this summer – and a new location too.
Heading into its seventh edition, the now traditional end-of-summer event will be joined by the first annual Waterfront District Rib Fest, a weekend-long celebration organizers are excited to introduce to Thunder Bay foodies and fans of succulent, mouth-watering ribs slathered in tasty, home-brewed barbecue sauce.
“We have ribbers coming in from London, Ont.,” said Waterfront District BIA chairwoman Suzan Cooper Rochan on Wednesday at a pre-festival kick-off event held at Motors and Muscles new home, the OLG Casino Thunder Bay.
“They’re coming in their 45-foot-long smoker trailer, with the big smokers in the front. They put on quite a show for everyone. The signs alone above their trailer are 23-feet high. We’ll have other artists and vendors and we’ll have a main stage with entertainment.”
John Trevisanutto, chairman of Motors and Muscles, said the diabetes fundraising event outgrew its previous location, necessitating the move.
He said fans of the event can expect more of the same this summer, only on a larger scale.
“This year we’re having a cross-fit competition. We have about 40 entrants for that. Then we have our popular strongman competition and this year we’ve got our biggest field,” he said. “There are more than 12 entrants coming in from local and from out of town.
“They’ll be pushing the big tires and the big weights. And of course then we have our popular biker games. It’s open to anyone on a motorcycle. We’ll have some skill competitions.”
If that’s not enough, a beer gardens will keep the adults occupied, and a children’s play area with bouncy castles will keep the younger set equally busy.
The music, Cooper Rochan said, will entertain all.
“It’s a good community event,” she said. “We have Night Train, Cheap ‘N’ Easy, the Groove, Flipper Flanagan. So we have a lot of entertainment going on over those three days.”
If that’s not enough, there will be a fashion show, she added.
And the price is right for Thunder Bay – admission is free, though organizers will accept donations of non-perishable food goods for Shelter House.
“This is a great way to wrap up summer, down at the Waterfront District,” Trevisanutto said, adding the reverse-draw motorcycle tickets, which go for $100 apiece, are selling well and the raffle winner will be announced on the Saturday night of the three-day festival.”
Organizers of the pet-free event are also still looking for volunteers.
For more information phone 343-9032.
