Pickering Rotary Ribfest wins city’s top Readers’ Choice Award
Pickering residents have chosen the signature festival of Pickering Rotary Club as the best local event in the city under the Arts, Culture & Entertainment category PICKERING, August 04, 2025 — The Rotary Club of Pickering has won the hearts of Pickering residents through their stomachs, hosting the city’s largest outdoor festival, Pickering Ribfest. They have chosen the ribfest as the best local event for Metroland Media Group’s Readers’ Choice Award in Best of Arts, Culture & Entertainment in Pickering, giving it a Diamond rating in the category. “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award, bestowed on us by our community members,” says Don Alton, president of Pickering Rotary Club. “It’s also a testament to our Club’s largest fundraiser’s success as the greatest family fun event in the city.” Alton adds, “We are thankful to the thousands of Pickering residents who have participated in this voting process and encouraging us with such an honour.” Every year Metroland hosts online nominations where people from the community can nominate their favourites from the community to be recognized. According to the media conglomerate, “After weeks of community support and thousands of votes the results … helped shine a light on the businesses, services, and people who make our local community truly the best.” Through the Pickering Ribfest that turned 11 this year, the Rotary Club raises funds to support food banks, shelters and other nonprofit organizations in their efforts to serve vulnerable communities in Durham Region. Starting last year, the Pickering club is independently organizing the Rotary Ribfest in Pickering, which was co-led by Ajax club in the past. Alton notes that other Rotary member clubs and charity organizations from the region have continued to support through volunteering at the event, alongside the members of the Pickering club.