ILBBQF Continues to Grow

Lake Placid, NY—I Love Barbeque Festival Returns July 4-6

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Several new events have been added to the third annual Lake Placid , NY —I Love Barbeque (ILBBQF), July 4-6, on the Olympic speedskating oval, in Lake Placid , N.Y.   Proceeds from the event benefit the Shipman Youth Center of Lake Placid, a not-for-profit community organization, which provides support for area youth between the ages of 10 to 18.  In two years, the ILBBQF has raised almost $45,000.00 for the center.

“The turnout and support for this event has been overwhelming,” said Shipman Youth Center board of director’s president Dmitry Feld.  “This has become a signature event for the area, one in which the community, volunteers and teams look forward to each year. This is a fun family oriented event, centered around an American institution in barbeque, and I think that’s why we’re able to be so successful and at the same time raise money and awareness for the Shipman center.”

The third annual event will draw 42 barbeque teams from the U.S. and Canada to the Olympic region to compete for $7,500.00 and the title of ILBBQF grand champion in the sanctioned Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contest.  The teams will compete in four categories of chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket.  In addition to the competition, food demonstration, music, celebrity appearances and children’s rides and games, the ILBBQF has also tapped into the popularity of the FOX-TV hit reality television show “American Idol,” with its own version of “Lake Placid Idol” sponsored by State Farm Insurance.

“Each year the committee explores new ideas to bring to the event, and I believe that this will be extremely popular and exciting,” noted Feld.  “This contest is open to everyone, soloists and bands of all ages and $1,500.00 in cash will be awarded.”

Eight musicians and/or groups will be selected to perform on Saturday, July 5, and the top three acts will be invited to perform at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts on Friday, Sept. 5.  The first-place act will win $1,000.00; the second place act will earn $300.00, while the third place performer will come away with $200.00.  To be eligible to participate in the contest, musicians need to submit their demo CD or MP3, no later than Wednesday, April 30, to Gordy Sheer, 57 Church St. , Lake Placid , NY 12946 , or through e-mail at gordys@ilbbqf.com.  The contestants for the “Lake Placid Idol” contest will be announced, Thursday, May 15.

In addition, Steve Farrin, the pit master of the I Smell Smoke Barbeque Team and the 2006 ILBBQF grand champion, will teach barbeque techniques.  The class scheduled for Friday, July 4, will teach barbeque enthusiasts how to prepare chicken, ribs and other foods to make barbeque fun and delicious. The cost is $75.00 per person.

July’s event will also celebrate Canada and its culture, cuisine, music and long-standing relationship with the Olympic region. The Lake Placid Center (LPCA) for the Arts will host a Canadian film series, beginning Thursday, June 19.  For more information contact the LPCA.

General admission tickets for the third annual ILBBQF are $5.00 for adults, while children 12 and under will be admitted free. Gates open Friday, July 4, at 5 p.m., while on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, the gates will open at 10 a.m.  For more information on the Lake Placid , NY—I Love Barbeque Festival, visit www.ILBBQF.com.

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Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer whose life was cut short in 1999, inspired the center, which the festival will benefit. For the past seven years, the Shipman Youth Center has provided a supervised safe and exciting environment and programs where local children can grow and develop as individuals.