Got Barbeque?

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Barbeque teams from throughout the country, Canada and even Great Britain return to Lake Placid and the Olympic oval to fill the air with the sweet smell of barbeque and hickory smoke when they cook and compete in the fourth annual Lake Placid— I Love Barbeque Festival. The three-day, food-fest begins Friday, July 3, at 5 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend.

“I can’t think of any better way to spend the July 4th weekend than with family, friends and barbeque,” stated the festival’s director of operations Dmitry Feld. “This is an event that’s created to bring together the community and family to celebrate all that’s American… barbeque, plus raise money for an important organization.”

Proceeds from the festival benefit the Shipman Youth Center of Lake Placid, a not-for-profit community organization providing support to children and youth ages 10-18 through a supervised safe and exciting environment where local children can grow and develop as individuals. Now in its fourth year, more than 8,000 people have attended the event and raised more than $20-thousand per year.

A new addition to the weekend festival is the first-ever junior world championship barbeque competition. During the junior world championship event, barbequers, between the ages of 16-21, will compete for big scholarship money from Paul Smith’s College. The gold medal winning team and individuals will receive a $10-thousand scholarship from the school, while the silver medal winning team will earn a $6-thousand scholarship and the third place team a $5-thousand scholarship. Although the school specializes in hospitality, resort and tourism management, culinary arts and service management, the teams can use the scholarship money for any of the college's programs of study.

“This event has taken the festival to a new level and is another reason for people to come to Lake Placid and to this event,” remarked Feld.

Also highlighting the festival is Saturday’s, July 4, “Buck-a-Rib” contest, where visitors can taste an assortment of ribs from 26 competing teams for just $1.00 apiece, and Sunday’s, July 5, grand championship and New York state title cook-off. The winner will earn an automatic berth into the American Royal barbeque contest, in September, In Kansas City, Mo.

Admissions into the fourth annual Lake Placid-I Love Barbeque Festival is $6.00 for adults and children 12 and under are admitted free. In addition to great food and barbeque, the festival will feature music, food demonstrations and plenty of other activities for families and children. For more information, log on to www.ilbbqf.com.