BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival coming up in Cleveland, Tennessee

Last summer’s inaugural BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival in Cleveland, Tennessee, drew more than 6,700 folks to the Greenway Park and Pavilion. Although there were barbecue food vendors among the concessionaires, organizer Tina Wilkins of Target Marketing Media had really wanted to include a barbecue cook-off.

“That turnout was so good, that the city of Cleveland has OK’d the barbecue cook-off this year and given permission for teams to stay the night in the park,” she says. “Teams will start cooking Friday night to get ready for the first turn-in Saturday at 1 p.m.”

This first cook-off is launching with four teams who will prepare pork, chicken and ribs with an optional category of brisket. Competitors do not have to participate in the brisket cook-off to be declared grand champion. Judging starts with chicken at 1 p.m., pork at 1:30, ribs at 2 and brisket at 2:30.

Wilkins said it will be up to individual teams whether they want to make any meat available to festivalgoers from what they have available after serving judges. But that doesn’t mean guests will go hungry.

“We will have a dozen barbecue and other food vendors there to feed the public,” she says of the 70 total vendors who will be in Greenway Park.

The event will include a Kids Zone with petting zoo and inflatables. Bring a folding chair and set up in a shady area to hear music by Jim Duff from Cincinnati, Ohio, Charlsey Etheridge from Dalton, Georgia, New Grass Express bluegrass band and Blue Matter blues band.

Visitors can purchase a ticket on a 50/50 drawing. Tickets are $2 apiece or three for $5; half the pot goes to the winner, the other half will be donated to Cleveland High School.

Free event parking will be available at Cleveland High School.

For more information: www.BBQbluesandblue grass.com.