Event to deliver sights, sounds, tastes

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Rims and Ribs 2023 is RetroFest and Ribfest blended with a twist.

March Break Day Camp

The two popular Chatham events are coming together in a three-day extravaganza to be held May 26-28 in the city’s core.

The joint effort is bringing some changes, including the cancellation of the Friday night classic car cruise – a fan favourite of vintage car buffs.

According to Connie Bene - teau of the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA, Chatham-Kent police are unable to assist with traffic control and patrols so the cruise has been dropped.

During last year’s RetroFest cruise, a tragedy occurred when two people were killed in a collision on Queen’s Line.

“The Chatham-Kent police, for all of Chatham-Kent, will not facilitate the cruise,” Beneteau explained at a media announcement last week. “Without their resources, it’s not the safest direction to go.

“The BIA as part of the municipality has to respect that.”

In response to the cancellation, Chatham-Kent Police Service Chief Gary Conn said police have shifted focus.

In an e-mailed statement, Conn said the service has changed from a traffic management approach to a traffic enforcement approach, due to the “increasing safety issues we have been observing at these events over the years.”

According to Conn, event participants do not typically demonstrate negative behaviours jeopardizing everyone’s safety, but “unfortunately, we must now assist event organizers in providing a safe environment for all persons/ citizens attending these events.”

The closing of Tecumseh Park for major sewer work starting on June 1 and running for the rest of the year is a big reason the events were combined.

Beneteau said Ribfest, which is run by Wallaceburg’s Chris Glassford, is normally held in July. Because Ribfest requires a lot of resources and space for big equipment, the park’s closure spurred the decision to partner up.

“We’ve worked with Chris before,” she said, adding he normally runs the beverage garden for RetroFest.

“So, we already had a partnership,” Beneteau explained, adding it made sense to work together.

They decided Ribfest gets the park, with RetroFest getting the streets.

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