Attendance at the Sarnia Kinsmen Club Ribfest at Centennial Park last weekend topped 31,000 and charities will benefit from the proceeds.
Spokesman Jack Struck says the club is donating $42,000, in part from reserves, this fiscal year.
"It will be split among 24 charities and we always keep a reserve for families in need," says Struck. "If someone has a problem or a situation where we can help, maybe we can't cover the whole cost but can help some, we will be there."
Struck admits they were overwhelmed by the public's support.
"People wanted Ribfest back in Centennial Park and it's obvious by the show of people and compliments," he says.
He says the crowd on Saturday night alone reached 20,000 and more beer was sold this year than in 2014 and 2015 combined when the event was held at Hiawatha Horse Park because of contamination at Centennial.
Struck says they hope to use proceeds to land a marching band for next year's Canada Day parade.
He says they plan to expand the event to four days in 2018, beginning Thursday, July 5.
