Press Release
NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Grilling and barbecuing are among America's leading culinary pastimes, and North Little Rock's Riverfront Park is where barbecuing maestros from far and near will converge to compete for the world's richest prize.
With $100,000 at stake, visitors to the second annual USA Barbecue Championship are guaranteed delighted taste buds and full stomachs. With the worldÕs greatest barbecue wizards putting their all into being the best of the best, there'll be no shortage of top quality barbecue on tap.
Sponsored by Smoke on the Water Productions and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the USA Barbecue Championship is more than just a treat to your tongue. It's also ground zero for entertainment galore.
So your ears don't get jealous of all the fun your mouth is having, there is a solid line-up of musical entertainment: the Southern stylings of Colt Ford, the edgy country duo LoCash Cowboys, the funk-country-classic rock fusion of Crisis!, the retro rock-n-roll roar of The Blue Meanies, and last but not least, the classic, funky, dance, alternative, trippy, hippy rock band Mr. Happy!
Once your belly's full sampling the best barbecue on the planet and your ears are filled with the finest sounds, there's still more thrills to be had.
Get a bird's eye view of the USA Barbecue Championship with a tethered hot air balloon ride. Once you're back on the ground, you can hit the large fair & midway, let your inner child loose with some carnival games and have a screaming good time on the rides. Speaking of rides, car aficionados can get their kicks without heading to Route 66: the Classic Car and Motorcycle Show is a wonderland of truly classy chassis!
Considered the world's richest contest with a guaranteed purse of $100,000, the Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned USA Barbecue Champion's purse of $20,000 is the largest on the competition circuit. Last year's event at the Clinton Presidential Center attracted 158 teams representing 43 states including 3 from Canada.
"We expect all the best teams in the world to be here," said Smoke on the Water Production's Ron Cates, who, with his wife Cari, first conceived and kicked off the Smoke on the Water festival which has flourished and blossomed into the world's leading barbecue contest. "This is the premier event on the competition circuit. With six figures in prize money, we're second to none."
Terry Hartwick, president of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, expressed his enthusiasm for the world's richest competition. "I'm excited to be part of such a world-renowned gathering. It's a privilege to help bring an event of this caliber to our city and we look forward to watching it grow in the future."
The USA Barbecue Competition will be held March 19-20, 2010, in North Little Rock's Downtown Riverside RV Park on the bank of the Arkansas River. Located across from the Clinton Presidential Center, the full service RV park has all the amenities of home and offers a spectacular view of Little Rock's beautiful skyline. Admission is only $5 with children 10 and under admitted free. For more information, please visit www.smokeonthewaterbbq.com or call the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce at (501) 372-5959.
