BBQ Events: I Love Barbecue Festival

This comes to us from The Adirondack Daily. I hear that last year's event was one of the best contests in the country. I'm hoping to go this year myself. See you there?

LAKE PLACID — With thoughts of spring come thoughts of summer. And with thoughts of summer, the mind will inevitably start thinking barbecue.

It’s already on the minds of organizers for the I Love Barbeque Festival, set to take place from June 30 through July 1 at the speed skating oval in Lake Placid.

In just its second year, the Barbeque Festival has doubled in size from 15 teams competing last year to 30 slated for this year.

And this isn’t just Uncle Joe in the backyard flipping burgers and hot dogs, said communications coordinator for the event Jon Lundin. These are professional barbecue crews captained by pit bosses with some not-so-open techniques and a few heavily guarded secrets.

“Some of the equipment these guys bring is unreal,” Lundin said.

Like last year, the winner in Lake Placid will be designated as the New York State Grand Champion and will have a shot to compete for the national title at the Royal America Barbeque Festival in Kansas City, Mo.

In fact, all the judges for this year’s Lake Placid Barbeque Festival will be trained and certified by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which oversees the national championship.

There will be no gas, just wood and charcoal.

The cost of admission for the event is $5. If the smells wafting through town don’t entice you to check out and sample some fare and see master barbecue chefs in action, Lundin said he hopes the cause will. All the proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Thomas Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid. Last year, the event was able to haul in $23,000 for the youth center, and Lundin said they’re hoping to top that amount this year.

“Last year, the Kansas City Barbeque Society said, if we break even or make $15, we should consider the event a success,” Lundin said.

Like last year, teams will have to demonstrate a range of barbecuing ability. They’ll be competing in four categories: chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket.

The winner, along with being crowned state champion, will also walk away with a check for $7,500.

The event kicks off with a $1,000 Midnight Grillin’ Bash with live music and fireworks. Throughout the weekend, there will be live music, games, entertainment and, of course, food.

Participants will have the chance to taste of the competing teams’ fare on Saturday, June 30 for the People’s Choice Award, also dubbed the “Buck-a-Rib” contest, where each rib costs $1.

At all other times, only judges will be sampling the teams’ barbecue, but Lundin said there will be plenty of other food vendors and entertainment to keep people full and happy.

Spectators will also have the chance to meet some “barbecue celebrities” like Rodney “Ziggy” Cheshire, founder of the School of Southern Barbeque; John Frank, a two-time Super Bowl champion; Mark Grimmette, a two-time Olympic luge medalist; and Jack McDavid, host of the Food Network’s “Chillin’ and Grillin’” show.

On the Net: I Love Barbeque Festival: www.ilbbqf.com

Contact Andy Bates at 523-4401 or abates@lakeplacidnews.com.