Halal Ribfest Hits Windsor: First-Ever Finger-Lickin’ Stop!

The inaugural visit of the Halal Ribfest North American Tour to Windsor, held over the weekend at the Riverfront Festival Plaza, showcased an array of meticulously crafted barbecued culinary delights. Scheduled to traverse 13 cities in Canada and seven in the United States during 2023, the tour anticipates attracting a whopping 500,000 plus attendees across its 20 festival stops.

This unique event, featuring rib chefs (“ribbers”), diverse street food, a shopping market, mesmerizing fire shows, and a Nasheed a cappella concert, was specially designed to cater to Windsor’s vibrant Muslim community.

A family-friendly occasion, the festival represents an innovative spin on the traditional summer ribfest, a staple of Canadian culture, according to organizer Reema Siddiqi of the Toronto-based traveling festival. “Our unique spin provides a culturally inclusive environment for Muslims, allowing them to savor the star attraction – the ribs,” says Siddiqi. Halal food, prepared by Islamic dietary laws, which among other things excludes pork, allows the Muslim community to enjoy these culinary treats. The festival, as Siddiqi puts it, aims at “sharing the joy of food, ribs, and barbecue.”

Six distinguished “ribbers,” each boasting an impressive showcase of trophies and commendations from previous events, were spread across the plaza, captivating visitors with their unique rib brands.

Siddiqi underscored the festival’s aim to reach out to significant cities with a substantial Muslim presence, where such inclusive events might not always be possible. “Our festival provides an all-inclusive experience for the Muslim community, from performances to the food,” she noted.

At the festival, visitors had the opportunity to sample halal ribs, prepared in a manner permissible for Muslims, similar to those found at traditional ribfests. Siddiqi elaborated, “For Muslims, it means being able to taste food from vendors, food trucks, or local providers that they might have noticed at previous events but were unable to try.”

Praising the Windsor venue, particularly the waterfront, Siddiqi remarked, “I’ve visited Windsor multiple times, but I’ve never seen the riverfront path. I feel like I’ve missed out.” She added enthusiastically, “We’re excited about returning to Windsor. It’s a gorgeous venue and the locals have been exceptionally gracious.”