Over the past 3 weeks, COVID-19 case rates are increasing, death rate remains 4 points above the national average, and vaccination rates are slowing. Also, hospital capacities and admission rates (particularly for COVID)  in our surrounding areas  are worsening.

We share this with you so that you know that this decision is not based on what we think or feel. It is a result of reviewing the impact of the COVID crisis on all of you, the people of our community. We are cancelling Ribfest to lessen the impact on you, the cook teams, and our volunteers. Transmission rates for COVID and particularly the Delta variant are extremely high, even scaled against the rates of last year. By cancelling Ribfest, we will be doing our part to lessen that impact on our community.

This decision does mean that we will not be able to support Habitat as we have in the past, and we have spoken with the Director of Habitat Loudon. He fully understands our concerns and supports our decision. We will try to work with Habitat to find other ways to help out. One way you can help out is to click on the link to donate to Habitat on this page.

Of course, we will fully refund all cook team fees and tickets sometime in the following week. Of course, we know that this will affect all of the people who have supported Ribfest and who have spent so much time and effort in planning and working to bring Ribfest about this year. We hope that time you have given has been given “in peace to love and serve the Lord.” We have not only been building Ribfest, we have been building friendships and relationships that will last beyond any event. Ribfest has always been about not only food and fun, but about fellowship and community.

Thanks for all you have done and will do!