Naperville Kids Get Chance To Name Ribfest's New Mascot

NAPERVILLE, IL -- The Naperville Ribfest has a new mascot for this year's event. The smiling, sunglasses-wearing, overall-sporting pig has been chosen to be the new mascot, and Ribfest officials are asking local kids to give it a name.

Ribfest runs from June 30 to July 3, and donates proceeds to help victims of child and domestic abuse, having raised over $15 million over its 30-year tenure. The mascot will spend time walking around the Knoch Park grounds for the entirety of the event.

Erin O'Donnell, spokeswoman for the event, knows what the event is all about. "When we do this, it's all about the kids anyway. That's why we do the fundraiser, and we wanted the kids and community be involved," she said, according to the Naperville Sun.

Event organizers are also looking for two mascoteers to work the four-day festival. Applicants must be athletic enough to walk around all day in the costume, which stands at about 5'10. Applicants also must film a 30-second video explaining why they want the job.

The Exchange Club, who sponsors the event, is asking each school in Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204 to submit one entry per grade for the pig's name, according to the Sun. The winning grade will get 30 tickets to the fest, good from July 1 to July 3.

Mascot name submissions must be in by 5 p.m. on May 23. For questions regarding the naming contest, residents can emailed to Pam Keith at ribfestmascot2017@yahoo.com.