20th Annual
August 4-6, 2011

Volunteers Make It Happen At Ribfest And, We Need You to Volunteer

Ribfest depends on volunteers to staff the event and enable Community Advocates to generate more money to support community programming. Volunteers are the life-line of Ribfest. All volunteers receive a heartfelt thank you, a t-shirt, and up to two non-alcoholic beverages during their shift. More than just the t-shirt and beverages, people who volunteer at Ribfest have the satisfaction of helping to make a difference. Plus, it's just fun to volunteer, and always a little bit crazy! 

New this year, upon submission of this form, volunteers will receive a job description flyer allowing the opportunity to study job expectations. Volunteers must pick up their t-shirt and free entry pass for their volunteer shift. Also new this year, volunteers will need a gate pass for their free entry. Volunteers are asked to report to the Information Booth 20 minutes prior to the start of their shift. This allows the Community Advocates Board volunteers to greet you and review your job and answer any questions. 

Volunteer jobs include:

• Beverage Ticket Sales - These volunteers sell $1 tickets. This is a very important job and we are looking for individuals who want to help us raise money to support Community Advocates.  Because volunteers handle money, we do require a valid drivers license to volunteer.  Working in the ticket booths is quite entertaining and the customers typically make the job fun with their comments and total appreciation. The booths are small so we suggest to volunteer with a friend.

• Beverage Tent – These volunteers serve beverages at the tent(s) on Thursday and Saturday.  A total of 250 volunteers are needed to fill these slots.  If you think being a bartender is fun, then volunteer – and bring along your friends.  If you work for a company and would like to volunteer as a "team" we can help you do just that!

• Gate Attendant - This is a fun job to volunteer with a group of friends (2-4) ~ two sell $5 admission tickets and two put on wrist bands. It's easy and fun.  We are also conducting a survey at the gate to collect more informaiton from our attendees to make Ribfest even better in the future.

• Volunteer Support - These volunteers are our “on call and relieve” volunteers.  They help relieve the volunteers, they help to fill in as needed, and are the “Sure, I will help” people.

• Special Event Hosts - These volunteers helps to run the special events each day.  Events include WRKR Best Ribs in Kalamazoo, Sponsor's Choice, Kalamazoo Cook-off, and our new Eating Contest.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can call 269.388.2830 or email Deb Droppers at deb@eventkalamazoo.com. 

Click here to download the volunteer information brochure, then click "submit form." We try to respond within 48 hours of submitting a form.