Tryon’s Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is on a roll: Once again, the governor of North Carolina has
Obtaining the North Carolina State Championship designation has added prestige over the years — an honor that goes to the highest scoring North Carolina team competing, according to the festival website. Former governors James B. Hunt, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue, as well as current Governor McCrory have renewed the championship designation.
The festival, which has drawn as many as 25,000 attendees, will be held June 12-13 this year.
A press release from Governor Pat McCrory’s office says:
The proclamation marks the Festival’s 22nd year as a North Carolina State Championship and is expected to once again attract thousands of people to Harmon Field in Tryon for two days of live music, the best in regional crafts, carnival rides and games, and the opportunity to enjoy the best barbecue to be found anywhere—plus many added attractions. Admission is only $8 per person at the gate, with no charge for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Active duty military (with valid military ID) are free any time. And, again this year EVERYONE gets in FREE on FRIDAY, from 10 am until 2 pm—get in free and stay until closing if desired.
“The beauty of the area, the hospitality of the volunteers, the high quality of the entertainment and the indescribably delicious food combine to make this festival one of the top food festivals in the country,” says Mike Karaman, chair of the Festival’s steering committee. “We’re proud to have been featured on The Food Network, The BBQ Pitmasters TV show and in many other top media outlets. We attract top cook teams from all over the U.S. who compete for more than $20,000 in titles, trophies and prizes,” he said. The Chairman added that the most coveted prize for the home state teams is the Governor’s Trophy, awarded to the highest-scoring team from North Carolina.
“Winning the NC State Championship is a major achievement in a state so rich in barbecue history, and it comes complete with bragging rights,” said Karaman
Added attractions on Saturday include the 5th Annual Classic Car Show, sponsored by Dusenbury Insurance Agency, which again has made it possible for festival goers to get a close up look at a real NASCAR race car and take a turn around the track in the Nationwide Simulator. The Show Car this year is Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s famous #88.
Also on Saturday, there will be a Hawg Run that originates at the Harley-Davidson store in Greenville and ends at the Festival. This is a motorcycle “poker run” in which participants collect one card when they sign in, they pick up another three cards—one each at three stops along the route—and draw a final card upon arrival at the Festival. The top five-card stud hand wins a cash prize.
And, again this year, there will be the awe-inspiring grand finale Fireworks Extravaganza just after dark on Saturday night.
Festival goers can stroll right into “Hog Heaven” and see the cook teams in action. 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 more—and be treated to one of the region’s most consistently impressive line-ups of live music on two stages.
The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is produced each year by the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds help support Chamber operations, and the Carolina Foothills Chamber Foundation, which returns monies to the community through distributions 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 water bottle, and free food). 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.
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