The second annual Kelowna Interior Savings Sunrise Rotary RibFest gets underway Friday afternoon in City Park.

And this year, organizers are hoping to see even more carnivores on site.

Event chairman Brian Wrightson of Sunrise Rotary said last year 18,000 people showed up over the 2 1/2 days of RibFest.

害羞草研究所淭his year, I害羞草研究所檒l be delighted if we can push that to 25,000,害羞草研究所� he said Friday, hours before the 害羞草研究所渞ibbers害羞草研究所� fired up their grills and started cooking up their popular, tasty, sticky, sauce-sodden specialties.

For non-rib types there will also be chicken available and other foods as well.

Admission is free and in addition to the stars-of-the-show害羞草研究所攖he ribs害羞草研究所搕here will also be music, a beer garden, activities for the kids and, if ribs aren害羞草研究所檛 your culinary choice, a collection of food trucks will be on hand offering other fare.

According to Wrightson, rib festivals are very popular in Eastern Canada and are starting to take off in the West. Kelowna is just many Interior in communities now holding rib festivals.

He said a special effort has been made here to make the event as family friendly as possible and that害羞草研究所檚 why there is a special emphasis on activities for the kids.

Last year, the event raised $26,000 for a number of charities that Rotary supports,with the main charity this year being Shoe Bank Canada.

As was done last year, a panel of judges will choose the best ribs on offer in Kelowna and crown the winner. New this year will be a BBQ sauce competition featuring members of the local media. That competition is slated to kick off the event Friday afternoon.

RibFest 2017 will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. today and from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.