Belleville Gears Up for a Weekend of Flavour, Music, and Culture
- Small Town Productions
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Belleville will be alive with energy this weekend as Belleville Ribfest and the Belleville Caribbean Festival take over the city from Friday, August 15, through Sunday, August 17. Together, they promise a vibrant mix of sizzling BBQ, live music, colourful parades, and family-friendly fun.
Belleville Caribbean Festival
The Caribbean Festival brings a burst of island culture to the city, starting Friday afternoon at Victoria Park with the elegant Fête en Blanc (“Party in White”). This ticketed kick-off event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., featuring live DJs, island-inspired food vendors, a beer garden, and dancing as the sun sets over the bay.
On Saturday, the action moves downtown with a street festival and a colourful parade that leaves West Zwick’s Park at 1:00 p.m. and travels down Front Street. Expect the streets to be lined with artisan booths, Caribbean cuisine, games, balloon art, face painting, an obstacle course, and busker performances. Live entertainment will include the York Lions Steel Band, N2 The Band featuring Ravi Sookhoo, DJ Mydnyte, and even a limbo contest.
The festival wraps up on Sunday with Fusion Day at Zwick’s Park, offering a Caribbean brunch and gospel hour from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., paired with live music. Pop-ups on the Bay and Ribfest vendors will also be serving, blending cultural traditions with irresistible flavour.
Belleville Ribfest
Ribfest takes over West Zwick’s Park from Friday to Sunday, filling the air with the smoky aroma of slow-cooked BBQ. Some of the best rib teams in North America—such as Fat Boys BBQ, Billy Bones BBQ, Camp 31, and Texas Rangers BBQ—will be serving up their award-winning ribs, pulled pork, and chicken.
Beyond the food, Ribfest offers a full slate of activities: a classic car “Show & Shine Invitational,” a cornhole tournament, inflatables, games, a Nerf course, and live music to keep the energy high. The event also supports local causes, with proceeds going to the Belleville Lions Club and Gleaners Food Bank.
On Saturday, Ribfest’s festivities will blend with the Caribbean Festival as the parade makes its way downtown, then back toward the park. Sunday will see both events sharing Zwick’s Park for a grand finale of music, food, and community spirit.
Plan Your Weekend
With road closures in effect downtown on Saturday and busy parking near the event sites, organizers recommend arriving early or using alternative transportation. Aside from Friday’s Fête en Blanc, all activities at both festivals are free.
This weekend, Belleville is set to become the summer’s most vibrant destination. Whether you’re dancing to the beat of the steel drums, biting into a rack of smoky ribs, or enjoying a Caribbean breakfast under the summer sun, these two festivals, Belleville Ribfest and Belleville Caribbean Festival promise a weekend you won’t want to miss.
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