The music is great. The barbecue is the best. Rides are fun, and arts and crafts are beautiful. But it’s the volunteers who make the Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival work.

And it’s that time again; time for volunteers to start signing up and getting involved. The festival needs between 300 and 500 community volunteers to make it happen.  This is a community festival, and community volunteers — whether long-timers or first-timers, individuals, families or groups — make it happen.

Come be a part of this year’s great event, June 14 and 15 at Harmon Field in Tryon.

In addition to getting the highly coveted “VOLUNTEER” T-shirt, volunteers will get free admission for both days, convenient parking and a meal voucher. Plus, they will experience the fun of knowing they’re part of the coolest thing happening.

Look for the bright yellow application in today’s Tryon Daily Bulletin. Fill it out and mail or drop it by the festival office at the Chamber of Commerce, 2753 Lynn Road, Tryon, NC, 28782 – 828-859-7427.

You can also volunteer online. It’s easy, and there are lots of fun positions to sign up for. Visit BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com.

The festival is an annual event by the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce. For further information, and for sponsorship opportunities, call the festival office at  828-859-RIBS (7427) or visit BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com.

– article submitted by Brenda Bradshaw