Canterbury Village hosts 5th annual Michigan Rib Fest with national rib vendors

Smoked meats and smells of BBQ return to Canterbury Village, during the Fourth of July weekend after being canceled due to the pandemic. Hundreds wait in lines to try their favorite spare rib or southern collard greens.

This is the 5th Annual Michigan Rib Fest and lasts July 1 through the 4, it's a festival that features over 10 BBQ restaurants or catering groups plus additional small businesses. Six are national vendors bringing flavor from all the U.S.

Cowboys Barbecue and Rib Company from Fort Worth, Texas brought their best rib rub and spirit. This catering business has been around for over 30 years. Chef Duanne "Big Baby" Luckett says they're dedicating their shows this year in honor of their founder.

"We're dedicating these shows this year to our founder Dallas Grand who passed away a couple of months ago," Luckett said. "We love you Dallas, and we appreciate the help and the work that he gave us. We're keeping the legacy going."

More: 6 metro Detroit projects to receive millions in new Michigan state budget

Luckett and his team were serving up a list of Southern soul food.

"I got pork, you don't need no fork, I got brisket is a ticket, I got mac goin bring you back, the beans and greens gonna make a scene, hallelujah, hallelujah," Luckett said.

His favorite meal is the Texas brisket. The menu will also include coleslaw, potato salad, and jalapeno cornbread.

Food is not the only thing being served, guest can shop at clothing, desserts, jewelry vendors as well. Along with live performances each day including local musicians.

Some rib enthusiasts like Sabrina Vinson and Megan Vinson from Detroit traveled over 30 minutes to get a taste of finger-licking good ribs. The two sisters came with their dad after hearing about the event on Facebook.

Sabrina tried the Texas brisket from Cowboys, and it lived up to her expectations.

"It's really good. It's not too spicy, got a hint of spice, it's tender," Sabrina said. "It has like a really bold flavor."

Her sister Megan came out for the rib tips.

"My favorite is rib tips with a really good honey barbecue sauce," Megan said.

Along with their St. Louis cut ribs, they added on sides of mac and cheese and collard greens.

"The greens are decent," Megan said. "I mean, they're not my mom greens but you know."

Out-of-state grillers weren't the only ones smoking up the place, Detroit BBQ caterer Ken's Smokehouse were giving a taste of Midwest BBQ.

George Shortridge now owns Ken's Smokehouse after his father started the business but passed away last year. Before his father passed, he created a rub that was specifically made for ribs.

"I can't tell you what it consists" Shortridge said. "But it's just genetically designed just for these ribs and to give us an authentic taste that nobody got."

Shortridge specializes in St. Louis cut-style ribs as well. This is actually his first time at the rib fest and he does not feel intimidated by the nationally awarded rib crews.

More: Michigan to auction waterfront property, wooded lots across the state

"They're not ain't intimidating at all," Shortridge said. "They just got big, pretty signs but I got the meat."

Shortridge does not have a  restaurant but does offer catering and is avid street vendor with a few gigs lined up for the future.

Carolina Rib Kings were also in the house serving up ribs, briskets and other southern dishes. Timothy Fergestrom and girlfriend Danielle Wood from Davison, Michigan stopped in and tried their meat, mac and cornbread which a choice of pulled pork, brisket, chicken, sausage or two ribs on top. The two put brisket on their mac and cheese. Fergestrom describes the taste of the mac and cheese.

"Savory, and you can taste the wood in the grill," Fergestrom said.

Fergestrom also ate St. Louis ribs from Off The Bone BBQ , a group from Mobile, Ala. He describes them as tender and juicy. Woods agree as well.

"They literally just fell off the bone and they were really really good," Wood said. "Very, very juicy, like Tim said, and very smokey. Just really good."

The couple planned on trying fried pickles and more ribs from other vendors.

With only two days left,  tickets are $7 per person online. Children under two, military and veteran receive free admission.

All the festivities are happening at Canterbury Village at 2359 Joslyn Ct, Lake Orion.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canterbury Village hosts 5th annual Michigan Rib Fest with national rib vendors