Good table manners were left at the gate for Esquimalt Ribfest, where finger-licking was encouraged and sauce-smeared smiles were a familiar sight.

Thousands packed Esquimalt's Bullen Park Sept. 5 to 7 for the annual three-day celebration of southern barbecue, following the smoky scent of ribs slow-cooked by pitmasters from across Canada, including Greater Victoria's very own Grizzly BBQ.

Ribfest attendees pose with the festival's giant inflatable pig mascot. Ben Fenlon/Victoria News

Live music, local craft beer, cider and wine, plus plenty of family-friendly fun rounded out the feast.

And it wasn’t just about indulgence, money raised from the event will be donated to the Esquimalt Fire Fighters Charitable Association and the Esquimalt High School community field collaboration – a proj

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