CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- One of the more popular summertime festivals in the Chicago area is in doubt this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Our plans are a little bit up in the air," said Rick Grimes, executive director of Ribfest, which is put on each year by the Exchange Club of Naperville to raise money for programs for community service, youth and child abuse prevention.
This year’s event is scheduled July 2-5 for the first time in Romeoville. Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Nelly are the headliners.
Grimes said there's about a 25 percent chance the event will take place, at least in early July.
"We are looking at other dates later in the year. We’re talking about, potentially, a different fundraising event. Again, we may not be able to pull off a Ribfest this year," Grimes said.
Grimes said he’s not sure social distance restrictions by then would allow 10,000 people on the same field. H
"The one thing we wouldn’t want to do is put people at risk, whether it’s certainly our patrons, our sponsors, all the vendors, the entertainers, the workers that come out to build the site," he said.
Grimes said the Exchange Club of Naperville has raised more than $18 million for worthwhile organizations over the past 30+ years.