Festivalgoers are encouraged to wander around “Hog Heaven” and see the cook teams in action. They may even pick up a hint or two about the art of slow cooking. Then they can head to the main field to chow down on award-winning barbecue – as well as grilled corn-on-the-cob, fresh-squeezed lemonade and other treats. The line-up of food vendors includes something for everyone’s taste, including vegetarians.
On Saturday, look for the second annual Classic Car show featuring carefully restored vintage cars and trucks, and there will be two “Hawg Runs to Fun” (motorcycle poker runs), one originating in South Carolina – at the Harley Davidson store in Greenville – and the other in North Carolina – at Harley Davidson in Asheville. Both runs will start around 10 a.m. and bikes will begin arriving at the festival around noon.
In recent years, the festival has made a concerted effort toward “going green” and reducing its environmental footprint. The efforts of faithful volunteers and much hard work have been rewarded with an annual average saving of 13,000 pounds of waste diverted from landfill to recycling.
The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is produced by the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the festival help support chamber operations and the Carolina Foothills Chamber Foundation, which annually distributes grants to a variety of charitable and civic programs.
As always, the festival committee needs hundreds of volunteers (who work a four-hour shift and can get in free both days – not to mention free T-shirt, free bottle of water and free food voucher). Recruiting is still under way.
For more information on volunteering or any aspect of the festival, visit www.BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com or call 828-859-RIBS.
– article submitted by Brenda Bradshaw