Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass

Sevierville’s seventh annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass will take place May 20-21, 2011. This family-friendly event will once again bring barbeque cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville to compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion in the Bush’s Best TN State Championship Cook Off. Rounding out the event is toe-tapping bluegrass music, incredible arts and crafts, kids’ games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton.

Friday night (May 20), take a little time to visit with the barbeque cook teams you’ve seen on cable channels like the Food Network as you stroll through the “Que Zone.” Then make sure you bring a lawn chair for the free bluegrass concerts with rising stars and legends of the bluegrass genre. Friday night, hear Jerry Butler & The Blu-J’s (5pm), Blue Moon Rising (6pm), Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier (7pm) and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (8pm). On Saturday (May 21), catch Mountain Ruckus (1pm), Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers (2pm & 5pm), Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice (3pm & 6pm), Balsam Range (4pm & 7pm) and Grammy Award winner Sam Bush at 8pm.

Saturday morning (May 21), start the day early and watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Then stay for the announcement of winners at 4pm. During the competition the teams will cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, 5 pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams will receive recognition in Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket as well as specialty categories like “Anything Bush Beans”, “Anything Wampler’s Farm Sausage”, Sauce and Dessert.

An expanded Kids’ Zone and the Bluegrass Music Tent, sponsored in part by The Music Outlet, add fun and enrichment for the kids and families who attend Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass. The Kids’ Zone includes attractions like climbing walls, bounce houses and old-time toys while the Bluegrass Music Tent gives kids (and kids at heart) the chance to touch and play bluegrass instruments such as banjos, fiddles and more (don’t worry, instructors will be on site to help). Both of these attractions will be open until 9pm each day of the event.

A highlight of Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is the 7th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals held on May 21. Finalists from around the nation will sing their hearts out for a chance to win prize money, a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee and a guitar autographed by Dolly Parton. This competition, the only one of its kind that festival organizers know of, honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton. Competitors, male and female, must sing a song written by Dolly Parton (there are over 3,000) and do so in their own style (rock, rap, country, bluegrass, swing, soul, etc.).

Admission and concerts are free thanks to great sponsors, including the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce which encourages you to stay in Sevierville while visiting Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass. For more information about Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass, call (888) 889-7415 or visit www.BloominBBQ.com.

Sevierville’s 7th Annual Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass Event – Entertainment Lineup

Friday May 20

5pm Jerry Butler & The Blu-J’s
6pm Blue Moon Rising
7pm Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier
8pm Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out

Saturday May 21

1pm Mountain Ruckus
2pm Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
3pm Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice
4pm Balsam Range
5pm Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
6pm Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice
7pm Balsam Range
8pm Sam Bush

Events barbeque, Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass, Sevierville TN