The organizers of the Kamloops Ribfest say there are “several contingency plans” in place to allow for the return of the summer staple in August.

Spokesperson Bryce Herman tells NL News they’ve begun planning for the three-day event at Riverside Park, adding he’s optimistic there won’t be any COVID-19 restrictions in place this summer.

“We are fully prepared in our planning session that if we need to fence the entire area around the river and the main stage itself and ensure that people have their vaccine passports that we can manage that,” he said.

“Our biggest thing is that if you don’t start planning now, you certainly won’t be able to pull off an event in August. So we are looking at how we can manage it, but for us, certainly being able to have a full capacity in the park is going to be crucial to being able to make the event come off.”

As it stands, all outdoor organized seated gatherings in B.C. can have a capacity of 5,000 people or 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity, whichever is greater. It also says all fairs, festivals and trade shows are limited to 50 per cent of capacity with a COVID-19 safety plan.

“We are working with the authorities, so that is Kamloops Fire, the City, public health, the Liquor Control Board, around being able to get people in and out of the park safely,” Herman added. “We’re taking it all into consideration but I think the possibility of having to fence the are is our biggest control point.”

Organized by the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak, Ribfest is a staple of the Kamloops summer, though the past two editions in 2020 and 2021 had to be cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions. This year’s edition is scheduled to take place on Aug. 5, 6, and 7.

“I think the event will look a little bit different this year,” Herman added. “But all the components, the family fun zone, the beverage garden, and certainly the main stage with a full suite of entertainment all weekend will still be in the offing, and so there won’t be any major changes to that.”

“There is a long stretch between now and August and we are certainly very hopeful that we are turning the corner on this pandemic.”

In a statement, Ribfest Chair Danica Wilkinson said the event has raised over $650,000 for local charities and organizations in the Kamloops community, noting the economic impact of the 2019 Ribfest, the most recent in-person event, was estimated to be over $1.7 million.

You’ll find more details about the 2022 Kamloops Ribfest here.