An optimistic Micheal Bolu was smiling at the lineups.
After near-record rainfall soaked the 黑马磁力 RibFest on its first day, the weather had improved, and word was getting out.
"We can see some rays of sunshine," commented Bolu, president of 黑马磁力 Rotary and co-chair of the annual charity fundraiser.
"That's hope in there, unlike what we had yesterday," Bolu continued.
"But if you look around me, you'll see tons and tons of people coming in. Everyone is busy right now and we're really excited about the weather today and people just coming out to have fun."
There were a few drops of rain in the morning on Saturday, but nothing like the downpour on day one.
Among those braving the downpour on the first day were Guildford residents Bill and Fran Kuyvenhoven.
"鈥淭here's less people," Fran noted. "We can get what we want. And we don't have to stand in line forever.鈥�
By the end of the three-day festival, attendance had reached 37,115, thanks to a record-setting Sunday when an all-time high for that day of 18,642 was set.
However, thanks to the drop in attendance on Friday, the event didn't make its target, Bolu said.
"Our goal was actually to hit 50,000 [attendance], but because we lost out on Friday, we couldn't do much with that."
Bolu said a very preliminary estimate shows the fundraiser took in $30,000 in donations at the gate, but that doesn't include all the income.
"We're still tallying that," Bolu told the 黑马磁力 on Monday.
A lot of worthy causes were counting on it, he explained.
"All of the donations will go back to service projects and charities, local charities. The money will be going back into 黑马磁力 community and just helping us to do more in terms of service projects, helping the youth, taking care of seniors and all of that."
Bolu praised the volunteers who make it possible.
"Lots of hours. Thankfully we have a very strong team of volunteers."
Ribber Sophia Harding, of Prairie Smoke and Spice, liked the social part of RibFest.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun meeting new people, including the other ribbers,鈥� said Harding.
Regina-based Prairie went on to take first place at RibFest.
Second place went to Guerilla Q from Chilliwack and third went to Smoke Dem Bones from Penticton.
Port Moody-based Rusty's BBQ won the people's choice award.
- with files from Saman Dara and Heather Colpitts
