2010 Celebrate Maine Festival featuring the
Mainely Grillin’ and Chillin’ BBQ COMPETITION
August event to feature Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned competition
and live entertainment!
Eliot, Maine – The Mainely Grillin’ and Chillin’ BBQ Competition (http://www.mainelybbq.com), held in conjunction with the Celebrate MAINE Festival (http://www.celebratemainefestival.com/) at the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum in Eliot, Maine (2077 State Rd.), is set to be a record breaker with over 44 teams competing in this years BBQ competition.
Combining the BBQ Competition with the Celebrate MAINE Festival in 2009 enabled us to expand an already successful event into a phenomenal event that is sure to have something for everyone in the family to enjoy,” stated Lisa Raitt, Event Coordinator for the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum. “100% of the proceeds from the event go towards the preservation and restoration of the beautiful 33 acre farm and enable us to continue to educate future generations about farming heritage.”
The event kicks off on Friday August 6th with the highly regarded Pitmasters Class be led by two legends of Kansas City barbecue, Kansas City “Baron of Barbecue” Paul Kirk and Ardie Davis, founder of the American Royal Barbecue Sauce Contest. The class is sponsored by Dennis M. (“DennyMike”) Sherman, one of the events premium sponsors and creator of DennyMike’s award-winning line of rubs and sauces. Sherman said that the festival’s early success, coupled with the number of top-notch teams from around the country scheduled to compete, illustrate how his home state of Maine is continuing to make a name for itself in the national barbecue arena.
Saturday brings the teams together to compete in the popular People’s Choice Wings competition where this year teams will compete in three groups and the public will buy tickets and taste the entries and vote on their favorite. The winner from each of those groups will then participate in the final competition for the coveted title of Peoples choice Winner. The attending public will have the opportunity to judge in the final winner by putting their name into the drawing. Three random judges will be drawn from the entries. This is a fundraiser for the Farm Museum and was a tremendous success last year. The Iron Chef Competition sponsored by JP’s Shellfish, with celebrity judges James King, Director of Marketing for JP’s Shellfish, Rachel Forrest, Food Writer, Restaurant Critic, Food Editor, Ali Goodwin aka Gal Foodie, will challenge the teams as they have the “secret ingredient” revealed to them just hours before they have to present it for judging. On a lighter note the Wymans Wild Blueberry Contest sponsored by Jasper Wyman & Son, has the teams creating delectable desserts with three judges deciding the winner. Celebrity judges Elizabeth Lane, great-granddaughter of founder Jasper Wyman, Lucia of Lucia’s Kitchen in Cape Neddick, a former James Beard award winner, and Beth Howell from the Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School will determine the winner. And rounding out the day is a Branding Contest, sponsored and judged by acclaimed local design firm Pulp+Wire. The competition will recognize teams for their branding, slogans and team on-site presentation.
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On Sunday, August 8, certified Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS, http://www.kcbs.us/) judges from all over the country will take stock of the competition and determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in four categories—pork, ribs, chicken and brisket. More than $3,200 in cash and prizes will be awarded with the grand champion taking home $1,500 plus a trophy and prizes. In addition, each section of the competition will be fully ranked so participants can assess how their BBQ entries stack up against the rest.
Since its launch last year, the Mainely Grillin' & Chillin' State BBQ Competition, also sanctioned by the New England Barbecue Society (www.nebs.org), has attracted competition-level barbecue teams from across the country. The local competition has a decidedly national impact: The winner of the 2009 Mainly Grillin’ and Chillin’ Competition, IQUE, went on to win the 2009 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational in Lynchburg, Tennessee, one of the most prestigious in the industry.
The top-notch barbecue events will be held in conjunction with the Celebrate MAINE Festival, August 7-8. Chock full of family-focused events, Celebrate MAINE will feature live entertainment sponsored in part by Piscataqua Landscaping, including the Don Campbell Band, Four Baritones Barbershop Quartet on Saturday and Sunday Rebel Red, Simons & Goodwin, and Matt and the Barnburners take the stage. Both days feature dozens of talented craft artisans demonstrating their talent and selling their wares; and the Shipyard Brew Garden. and a colonial encampment all set on the beautiful and welcoming Raitt Homestead Farm Museum. A Children’s Corner will provide complimentary children’s activities, such as a crafts table, rock wall, horse drawn wagon rides and games. For a nominal fee a bouncy house, monkey jumper and the Raitt Barrel Tractor Ride are available.
The events attracted more than 3,500 people last year, and Event Coordinator Lisa Raitt hopes to double attendance this year. Daily admission is just $5 per person, and admission for children 12 and under is free. Take in the sights and sounds of the festival each day from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Day parking is free. Full details and the daily schedules are available at http://www.mainelybbq.com or celebratemainefestival.com.
Sponsored by Premium sponsors DennyMikes, JP’s Shellfish, Supporting Sponsors Piscataqua Landscaping, Jasper Wyman & Son, Cabot Creamery, Shipyard Brewing Company, Maine Veterinary Referral Center, Bob’s Trophies & Awards, Raitt Signs, Rousseau Farm Excavation, and The Tire Loft. Event Sponsors Wicked Good Charcoal, Maine Grilling Woods, Shains of Maine, B & B Woodworking, Poland Spring, Pulp & Wire, Marshall Rental Center, and media sponsor Taste of the Seacoast.
About The Raitt Homestead Farm Museum
The Raitt Homestead Farm Museum (www.raittfarmmuseum.org) is a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to educating future generations about farming history. 100% of the proceeds from the CMF/MGCB go to the restoration and preservation of the beautiful 33-acre farm.
Contact:
Lisa Raitt , RHFM Event Coordinator
207-748-3303/cell 207-332-5444