The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival will once again be the home of the state barbecue championship.
In a formal proclamation, N.C. Governor Beverly Purdue has decreed that the Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival held annually in Tryon, “shall be known as a North Carolina State Championship,” and that June 8-9 “shall be ‘The Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival Days’ in North Carolina.” The proclamation urges all citizens to commend the observance.
This year the event celebrates its 19th anniversary and, as usual, it will attract thousands of people to this small foothills town. Volunteers who plan and execute the event each year say it’s going to be one of the best ever. Chuck Britton, the festival chairman, invites everyone to come enjoy the championship barbecue, live music on two stages both days, regional crafts and family fun at Kiddy Lane.
“We don’t want anyone to be left out this year,” Britton said, “so we’ve waived the entrance fee on Friday from the time we open at 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Everybody can get in free during those hours and they can stay until closing if they want to.”
Admission fees on other days include parking, a shuttle to the gate and all concerts. He also mentioned that the Kid’s Ride Bracelets will be available again this year. These bracelets offer unlimited rides for a reduced price during two sessions each day: from the time the gates open until 4 p.m. and from 4 – 10 p.m.
Gates open at 11 a.m. on Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The festival closes both days at 11 p.m.
Entertainment Chairman Benton Wharton has announced the line-up of performers, including Friday evening’s headliners Acoustic Syndicate and Sol Driven Train and Saturday’s The Lee Boys and The Dynamites, featuring Charles Walker. The music cranks up in the early afternoon and also includes such notable bands as The Black Lillies, The Aaron Burdette Band and Flannel Church.
Barbecue teams come from all over the country each year to compete for more than $20,000 in titles, trophies and prizes. The most coveted prize, according to Britton, is the Bright’s Creek Governor’s Trophy, the symbol of the North Carolina State Championship, which is awarded to the top finishing North Carolina team.