Great Americana BBQ Festival
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin will be the site of the first Great Americana BBQ Festival on Saturday, Aug. 27, and will be a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned event.
The festival will feature a combination of Pro Division and Backyard Teams, competing across multiple categories for a total of $8,000 in prize money. Festivalgoers will be able to participate in the judging by selecting the “People’s Champion,” and the official winner of the Pro Division will go on to compete in the Jack Daniel’s competition in Lynchburg, Tenn.
BBQ will take center stage with vendors, grilling demonstrations and a whole-hog smoking contest, which is unique to this festival. The event will feature a variety of other attractions that will appeal to different interests. The festival is partnering with Music City Roots to provide a lineup of local and regional bands on the official music stage throughout the day, featuring some of the best talents Music City has to offer.
The Tennessee Distillers Guild will host a Tasting Area, where Festival-goers (ages 21+) can sample offerings from 10-12 distilleries, from some of the oldest registered distilleries in the state to some of the newest. Samples of Tennessee whiskey, rum, rye, vodka, and moonshine will be on hand for tasting.
The Great Americana BBQ Festival is a family-friendly event, with tickets for adults starting at $10, and kids aged 12 and under entering free of charge. The Festival will feature a Kid’s Zone with many fun activities for the little “pit masters,” as well as an assortment of food trucks and Arts and Crafts Vendors.
Produced by the Franklin Noon Rotary Club, all proceeds from the festival will go to local community beneficiaries. FNRC is in its sixth decade of service to Middle Tennessee, during which time it has raised over $2 million for community needs. FNRC is known for its sponsorship of the Franklin Rodeo, which is the longest-running annual event in Williamson County.
The addition of the Great Americana BBQ Festival marks a new chapter for FNRC, as it promises to become another of the region’s premier events. Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, a longtime community supporter, has generously partnered with FNRC as the Festival’s Presenting Sponsor.
For more information on becoming a competitor, sponsor or vendor at the festival, as well as information on the different levels of festival access and ticket purchases, visit www.greatamericanabbqfestival.com.
Original source: Great American BBQ Festival