Food festivals a messy business, but organizers say they're ready

Garbage might not be the first thing on your mind while you're enjoying a rack of ribs at Downtown Sudbury Ribfest this weekend, but hosting more than 50,000 people can be a messy business.

Ribfestis one of the city's most popular summer festivals, and it's celebrating its 10th year starting on Friday. The event comes on the heels of two other food-themed events Sudbury Poutine Fest and the Ukrainian Seniors' Centre Food Fest.

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MaureenLuoma, executive director of Downtown Sudbury, says clean-up comes with the territory when you're hosting a food festival. She says it's a lesson Downtown Sudbury learned the hard way after organizing Ribfest for the first time in 2008.

"It generates a lot of garbage, and we weren't ready for it in the first couple years, by any means," says Luoma.

"The last couple years, we have streamlined it. I think we have a pretty good system."

Festival-goers play critical role in clean-up

Like many festivals around the country, Downtown Sudbury relies on Green Team volunteers to help with the clean-up. Sponsors and community partners have donated large bins and other equipment, which Luoma says have made a big difference.

She also says festival-goers play a critical role when it comes to keeping the streets garbage-free.

"You want people to feel welcome, you want people to also respect the area," she says.

"So we also ask people to be respectful and...use the garbage receptacles."

Ribfest starts on Friday at 11 a.m. and runs until Sunday at 6 p.m. The festival will feature six professional rib teams, live music and family entertainment. More information about the event is available on the Downtown Sudbury RibfestFacebook page.