Tri-State BBQ Festival

WDHN to sponsor Backyard Competition this year

TheMainEvent — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:39:01 +0000

Local ABC affiliate WDHN has graciously agreed to sponsor the Tri-State BBQ Festival this year, and will be the Backyard Cook-Off sponsor. WDHN has been a proud supporter of community events since their inception back in August of 1970. The tri-State BBQ festival is pleased to partner with WDHN and know that they will assist us in making this another successful event!

If you haven’t been to the WDHN Website,http://dothanfirst.com/home lately, you should check it out. There’s (of course!) up to the minute news that you can read and view. But, there’s also a wealth of information on Dothan and even fantastic money-saving coupons and gift certificates.

One of my favorite things about WDHN’s site, is that you can purchase gift certificates for local restaurants… AT 50% OFF!!! It’s at the Frugal Fridays page http://dothanfirst.com/frugal and I personally can attest to the value in these certificates. I have used them all over town, and never once had a problem redeeming the certificates.

So if you need information on Dothan, are curious as to what’s happening, or want to save money on eating out, please check out our newest sponsors WDHN on their web page, www.dothanfirst.com

The Tri-State BBQ Festival will be held at the Houston County Farm Center on April 13-14, 2012. Friday night is the BBQ Bash Yard Party, a fundraiser for Wiregrass United Way 2-1-1 and features the soulful blues and southern rock of the BOPCATS. Saturday it’s all about the BBQ with teams competing for $10,000 in prize money. The KJAMS will play music at 7:00 pm and there are more exciting aspects to the event that are to be announced soon. Please subscribe to the RSS feed or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep informed of all the latest changes.

$5 tickets remain; expected to sell quickly

TheMainEvent — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:22:46 +0000

I don’t know if it was the rainy weather that had people sitting inside yesterday looking at our site, but we had 215 unique views yesterday, and sold 17 tickets to the festival! That leaves just 975 of the $5 adult advance tickets for sale online at http://2012bbq.eventbrite.com. When you purchase online, you do have to pay our ticket provider, Eventbrite a $1.27 handling charge. They then will send you an electronic ticket you can print off at home. These tickets are GREAT for people outside of Dothan who are coming to the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival on April 13 & 14.

Tickets are affordable on purpose! We want families to come out to this family-friendy event and enjoy the day together. We have food, concerts, activities and FREE activites for kids and families. We’re not going to nickle and dime you to death once you get in, etiher! Your Saturday ticket INCLUDES BBQ Sampling from 2:30-4:00 and also the KJams concert. PLUS kids play for free on the inflatables (the optional pony rides *do* charge a small fee, as do some other small kids activities.) $5 per person and great family value that’s AFFORDABLE.

For people in Dothan, tickets go on sale this week in person at a number of locations around town. We hope to grow this number before March 1st (and if you have a business that would like to sell tickets, please let us know!)

These places will have $5 tickets until March 31, 2012. (Adult tickets will be $10 begining April 1st, though student tickets are still just $5 even at the gate. Children 6 and under are free and do not need any ticket.)

Candy Bouquet of Dothan

2620 Montgomery Hwy # 3 Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 699-8888

Loftins Party and Wedding Center

1419 Montgomery Hwy Dothan, AL
Phone: 334-793-1301

Dothan Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

3311 Ross Clark Circle
Dothan, AL 36303
334.794.6622 Office
888.449.0212 Toll Free

The Main Event

257 S. St. Andrews St.
Dothan, AL 36301
(334) 699-1475* Please call before coming as we close for lunch and sometimes for meetings.

Car and Motorcycle Show in 2012 to be larger!

TheMainEvent — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:11:56 +0000

Last year, the car show was so well received that it outgrew its alloted space between the competition BBQ teams and the Judges building. We crammed as many cars as we could into the area, but found out quickly that we could have used more room for the car show! So, we worked diligently with some of the other activities and planning committee to make sure that the car show could receive more room for the 2012 festival. Granted, this means that we had to eliminate the archery tournament and probably the ferris wheel and some of the rides. However, the people we surveyed said that these attractions were not as much fun or as awesome as the Car Show, so we decided to go with what was awesome and expand on it!

Also last year, there were so many cars who entered, that the 40 awards that were given out meant that several very cool cars left without an award. We’ve changed that this year as well, and the New South Cruisers (the local car club who puts on the car show) has agreed to award 78 trophies this year. That’s first, second and third place in each of the 26 categories (Shown below). The trophies are really cool also (photo at the very bottom of the page).

The parking space for the cars will now be in the area behind the stage, wrapping around from the restrooms to the Durden VIP tent, justEast of the main stage. As an added convenience to people showing thier cars that day, there will be a special gate for these show cars and motorcycles, located off Prevatt Road. (There will be signs indicating where to go.)

If you have a classic car or awesome motorcycle or truck you want to show off, it’s just $20 to register and compete. You can register the morning of the event, between 8am and 11 am at the New South Cruisers tent. If your family has more than one car, it’s just an additional $10 per car to enter those as well. There are also door prizes and an optional 50/50 drawing from the New South Cruisers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that helps promote antique and classic cars in the Wiregrass.

Of course, to come out and look at all of the cars, it’s included in your general admission ticket for Saturday— no extra cost! Be sure to come look at the great cars on display and see which ones win at the 2:00 pm awards ceremony. (*That puts you there in time for the People’s Choice sampling from 2:30 -4:00 pm!) Of course your Saturday ticket also includes admission to the rest of the BBQ Festival and the KJams concert at 7:00 pm on the main stage. Hope to see you there!

Pig Tales kicks off today

TheMainEvent — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:43:21 +0000

Today kicked off the beginning of Pig Tales, the creative writing contest for students in conjunction with the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival. Pig Tales is sponsored by Five Start Credit Union, and is open to students in grades 3-8, where there is a Five Star Credit Union located in the county. There are three different age groups— 3rd and 4th grade, 5th and 6th grade, and finally 7th and 8th grades. One winner is selected from each age group, and awarded a $100 prize for the best story. Winning stories are then read on the main stage of the BBQ Festival at noon on Saturday, April 14th. Every student who turns in an entry receives a student ticket to the barbecue festival on Saturday April 14, 2012.

Representatives from the Tri-State BBQ Festival spent 3 hours on Friday driving from Dothan City School location to location to distribute nearly 5,000 entry forms to 15 elementary and middle schools. Even though the route was only 40 miles long, it took all morning to get to every school! Tomorrow, we’ll be on the road to Cairo, Georgia to deliver 3,700 more forms to their local schools. We also have Ashford and Eufaula schools participating, as well as Rehobeth elementary at this time. If your school would like to participate, please drop us a message quickly so we can get the forms to you, or download one here at the PIG TALES page.

All entries must be postmarked or received before March 12, 2012, so hurry up and get writing! For more information call us at (334) 699-1475 or visit your local Five Star Credit Union today. Don’t forget- each student who enters receives a free ticket to the BBQ Festival, a $5 value, plus has a chance at winning $100 in their age group!

Many thanks to the sponsor for this competition, Five Star Credit Union. We sincerely appreciate their commitment to the community and the youth in our area!

Know someone with a passion for helping children?

TheMainEvent — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:51:59 +0000

Currently, the Tri-State BBQ Festival is seeking a sponsor for the 2012 Kids Cook. The Kids Cook is a cooking competition for the youth in our community who have the drive and passion to showcase their culinary skills, and is held on the morning of Saturday, April 14th.

Last year’s sponsor, Oncology Supply decided not to continue their support of this program, so that leaves us looking for a new sponsor. Despite calling ten different businesses in Dothan last week, we couldn’t locate anyone who was willing to assist in this pint-sized BBQ competition.

We are now coming to the point where we are just 43 working days away from the event. If we don’t get a sponsor in the coming week, we will unfortunately have to cancel this part of the Tri State BBQ Festival.

To be the sponsor for the Kids Cook, we need the following items donated (or the money to cover said items):

2 chicken halves for each contestant. This number won’t be known until the week before the event, but last year we needed 24 chicken halves. Approximately $150.
Trophies or plaques for the top five in each of the two age groups. These (of course!) would have your company logo on them! They can be as fancy as you like , but figure $7 per trophy and 10 trophies = $70
Prize money for the top two in each age group. $100 for winner, and $50 for runner-up. (So, this is $300)
Basic supplies for the competitors, such as the turn in boxes and paper towels plus plates, knives and forks for the judges. ($20)
Money to print flyers to advertise the event. Last year we sent flyers home with all of the technical school students who are in culinary arts, and all of the 4H students who participate in culinary skills. We would like to expand the invitation beyond Dothan, and include students in the entire county— even further! ($200). Don’t forget though— your business name will be on these flyers too!
Finally, t-shirts (or aprons) for all participants. They’ll have the Kids Cook logo and sponsored by “your business” on them. $12 per shirt, or $14 per apron so probably $160 there.

That’s approximately an $900- $1000 investment to get your name on the Kids Cook competition as the sponsor. One of the fun parts of being the title sponsor is that you (or your staff, friends, family or whomever you designate) get to judge the kids entries! Last year, there were some fantastic cooks, and I got to sample a couple of entries. They were great!

So, if you believe in supporting programs that benefit the youth such as this, please call me this week. The number is (334) 699-1475 and we can discuss all of the details and get your name all over this competition.

Free popcorn, too? ABSOLUTELY!

TheMainEvent — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:58:31 +0000

So, you’re planning on coming to the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival this April and you know you’ll be eating lots of great foods. That’s a given — we’ll have some of the best BBQ in the world on April 13-14th! We’ve talked about some of the other great foods for purchase (pie on a stick, BBQ Sundaes) but let’s talk for a moment about the FREE food samplings.

First off, we have Frank’s Red Hot sauce, which is the official Hot Sauce of the 2012 festival. They will have a 40′ long Winnebago that they are doing sampling from during the festival. (It’s scheduled to be right across from the main spectator entrance, so you can’t miss it!) You can try all the great sauces they offer at that booth. We also have the folks from Blue Bell Ice Cream coming and they will be giving out free ice cream all day Saturday. And don’t forget on Saturday from 2:30- 4:00 is the people’s choice & Southern Hospitality competition. All the teams who participate in that will be giving out samples of BBQ, meats and other goodies during that time.

As if that’s not enough, our friends at Carmike Cinemas will be making on site and giving away free hot buttered popcorn!

When you think of delicious hot popcorn, you probably think of going to the movies, and that’s just what Carmike Cinemas wants! They have graciously agreed to sponsor one of the dining tents, and will be set up near this. The dining tent is a 40′ x 80′ tent that is set up not far from the stage, restrooms and some of the food vendors. It will have tables and chairs inside it, and will be available for people to get in out of the sun and off their feet throughout the two days of the festival. Carmike Cinemas will be on site cooking up hot, fresh popcorn all of Friday evening during the Bopcats concert and BBQ Bash Yard Party and again all day Saturday. Saturday night is the concert by local legends, the KJams at 7:00 pm.

The Tri-State BBQ Festival is April 13-14, 2012 at the Houston County Farm Center in Dothan, AL. (The GPS address you can use to find the festival is 1701 E Cottonwood Rd, Dothan, if you’re joining us from out of town.) Gates are open Friday from 5-10pm and then on Saturday from 10-10. Get your advance tickets early to save money!

Meet the Official Water of the Tri-State BBQ Festival!

TheMainEvent — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:17:17 +0000

This year, if you want a cold bottle of water at the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival in Dothan, Alabama, you’ll be getting one of the finest, purest, cleanest tasting waters made in the USA. White Quartz Premium Artesian Water.

There are only a few artesian wells of this quality in the world, and one just happens to be in Georgia. Here’s what their website says, “ We are proud to introduce Q AMERICAN ARTESIAN, pure and crystal clear water captured from its underground vault in the lush north Georgia mountains. Our water passes through formations of rock containing primarily Quartz – a powerful “programmable” stone that is believed can receive, store, and emit energy.
Once released from its birthplace, Q enters directly into our facility never exposed to any contaminants. It is then locked in our unique and patented six-sided recyclable bottle – appropriately the exact shape of the perfect WHITE QUARTZ.
We are so happy you found our site and our product. It’s pure, good, and American. Enjoy – and please tell your friends.”

The website, Quartesian.com also goes on to explain how artesian water is different. “Placed in a bottle, water all looks the same, but — is it? The fact is there is as much difference in water as there is in table wine and the finest champagne. The majority of bottled waters, those that are extremely inexpensive, are nothing more than filtered tap water – convenient, but lacking in the many elements that give premium water its quality and superior taste.

Another source of much of our competition is spring water. Derived from an underground formation, it flows to the surface where it remains in a pool exposed to both airborne and runoff contaminants.

Q IS ARTESIAN – the purest and most natural water on earth. Trapped in an underground vault, our artesian water passes through its quartz prison deep under the lush mountains of North Georgia directly into its earthly container -our unique hexagon bottle.

The shape of our bottle is symbolic and provides the perfect container for Q – six-sided and beautiful –the shape of the perfect white quartz stone.”

This water is great, refreshing and available in HoBo Pantries and other convenience stores locally. We are pleased that White Quartz is a sponsor of the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival in Dothan, Alabama on APril 13-14, 2012, and we thank them for their continued support of the festival. It is only through the support and sponsorship of area businesses that we are able to provide affordable family fun to the community!

The baby with the moustache likes Saucy Lips!

TheMainEvent — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:08:11 +0000

One of the ways we’re promoting the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival this year is through an ad campaign called “Saucy Lips”. Saucy Lips embraces the love of BBQ with messy faces of people eating it. We had 25 volunteers in the first phase of the ad who let us take their picture and video them eating BBQ. Mike Riddle of BLANK, LLC has been tasked with putting QR codes over the mouth of the person in the print ads. When someone takes their smart phone and scans the QR code then places their phone over the phone outline, the print advertisement comes to life. Mike is only half way done in uploading the faces to the Saucy Lips Facebook page, athttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Saucy-Lips/216118228476674 so please check back often to see what MIke has put up there to look at!

The second phase of the campaign is now live, which is the web site. SaucyLips.com SaucyLips.com randomizes the faces with the various mouths, allowing you to come up with crazy images, like the baby with a moustache! You just click “Get Saucy” to have another face come up. It takes a couple minutes sometimes, so be patient after you click!

The next phase of the campaign will involve print ads being distributed, and the campaign will culminate with a second photo shoot and more Saucy Lipped faces appearing.

Many thanks to Blank LLC for coming up with the idea, and we can’t wait for Mike to get more photos up, and get through the next several phases of the campaign!

BBQ Vendor and Food Vendor spots now closed

TheMainEvent — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:40 +0000

We have finally maxed out on food vendors, and BBQ teams who will vend at the event! We wanted to make sure we have plenty of great food for you to eat, but not so many food vendors that no one makes any money and wants to come back next year.

So, for the 7th annual Tri-State BBQ Festival in Dothan, Alabama here’s who we have and a sampling of their menus ….

BBQ Teams who are competing and vending. These are PROFESSIONAL cooks who are competing for $10,000 in prize money. This should be some of the best BBQ you’ve ever had! Their menus are fairly similar- they will all most likely have BBQ sandwiches, plates, ribs, chicken and even brisket. South Alabama is pork country, so I enjoy when these teams come to town and I can taste brisket!

(In no partiucular order)

Carolina Catering from Spring Park, Minnesota

ET’s BBQ from Port Charlotte, Florida

Jake’s Bar & Grill (hometown favorites) from Dothan, Alabama

Great Lakes BBQ & Feed Company from Lakeland, Florida

Benny’s BBQ from Niceville, Florida

Hub City Smokehouse from Crestview, Florida

We also have some great food vendors who are not selling BBQ. These are professional vendors who are bringing in treats and foods for people who *gasp!* might not like BBQ or get tired of eating BBQ for breakfast, lunch and dinner after a couple of days.

(In no particular order, with a brief menu listed)

KJ’s LIttle Shack- Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, burgers, hot dogs, Philly Cheese Steak, Chicken Cheese Steak

Dease Roasted Corn- fresh, sweet corn roasted to prefection and dipped in butter. Also frozen sweet tea and Italian Ice.

CB’s Kettle Korn- freshly made on site kettle korn

Logan’s Lemonaid- freshly squeezed lemonaid, sweet tea and Arnold Palmer (tea and lemonaid)

Cool Treats- Snow Kones

Pie in the Sky- Frozen, chocolate covered pie on a stick. Also frozen bananas on a stick, dipped in chocolate.

Yum Yum Ice Cream- Frozen novelty ice cream

D&S Concession- Chicken Fingers, chicken on a stick, corndogs, hot dogs, ribbon fries, nachos, fried pickles, ribeye steak sandwiches

THE Beer tent- Ice cold Miller Lite, Coors Light, Blue Moon draft (tentatively planned) and ice cold White Quartz Artesian water.

There will be plenty to eat and drink at this year’s event! Start your diet now so you can fully enjoy all the wonderful foods we’re bringing in for you this year!

Would you like a FREE, ice cold beer at the Tri-State BBQ Festival?

TheMainEvent — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:35:14 +0000

Well, so would I. (Just kidding!) Read on and follow my logic on this one….

Tickets at the gate and purchased after April 1st are $10. But, if you purchase your ticket in advance, it’s less money. You can buy them online HERE and they are just $5.00 (Event brite adds a $1.27 fee to it, making the total $6.27.)

So, if you bought a ticket in April it would be $10, but before March 31, it’s just $6.27. $10 minus $6.27 = $3.73. WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE COST OF A COLD BEER AT THE TRISTATE BBQ FESTIVAL! (Actually, it’s only $3.50, but we figured you’d want to pitch the change into the beer tent retirement workers relief fund.)

Surely, you can see my logic here! Buy a ticket early, take the savings to the beer tent and it’s just like getting a free beer! An ice cold Coors Light, Miller Lite or maybe even a draft Blue Moon with an Orange. Whaddya have?

Or, pay $10 and bring some extra money to enjoy cold beers at one of the Beer Tents. Either way, you’ll have a ball on Friday night listening to the Bopcats, and then on Saturday when the KJams will have us jammin’. There should be an ATM on site near the front gate, so even if you run short, we’ll have you covered.