We couldn’t ask for more gorgeous weather for this weekend as the North Cobb Rotary puts on their fabulous Smoke On The Lake at Cauble Park, at Lake Acworth. Last year this event was rained out on Friday evening, this year our community will join with the Rotary in celebration as they kick off the Barbecue season.
The Barbecue season kicks off the year with one of the first competitions in north Georgia. More than 30 teams will fill up Cauble Park in downtown Acworth on Friday May 8, from 6:00 p.m., to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday May 9, from 10:00 a.m., to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the festival is free and free parking can be found downtown with free shuttles running Friday night for the concert and fireworks and all day Saturday.
You will be able to smell the 6th Annual North Cobb Rotary Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival presented by Superior Plumbing from miles around as pro and backyard teams compete for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. Pro teams will compete for the piles of cash up for grabs to see who takes the title as the Grand Champion and Backyard cook teams are competing for their shot at three different Primo Grills.
Superior Plumbing is presenting the event which kicks off with a free concert and fireworks in conjunction with the Acworth Business Association and the City of Acworth on Friday May 8, The Mustangs will delight everyone, playing your country favorites on the Day’s Chevrolet Concert Stage at 8:00 p.m. Fireworks will shoot high in to the sky following the concert, so bring the whole family for a night you won’t soon forget! Reserved tables that seat six can be purchased for $75. Teams will compete on Friday night to see who will be crowned the Lord of the Wings Champion. This is judged by patrons of the concert Friday night, so bring the whole family and make sure you are all hungry! Tickets for the Lord of the Wings Championship are $5.00 for 3 tickets plus one voter ticket, or $20 for 12 tickets and four voter tickets. In addition, Williams Brothers will be selling BBQ plates for $10, includes meat and two sides.
This Georgia Barbecue Association-sanctioned barbecue cooking competition will continue all night along the banks of beautiful Lake Acworth and the event will open back up to the public on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. You can visit the teams and taste all the BBQ you desire, as the Taster’s Choice award will also be decided by patrons of the event. Tickets to taste the backyard teams BBQ will be on sale for a nominal charge. Vote with your stomach early and often to crown the winner of a Primo Grill and the title of the 2015 People’s Choice Champion. Tickets for the BBQ Tasting are $5.00 for 3 tickets plus one voter ticket, or $20 for 12 tickets and four voter tickets. There are 18 pro teams and 13 backyard teams participating this year.
Activities for the kids will be in the Kids Zone and the music that we all know and love will be played acoustically as Scott Thompson of Peachtree Station will perform from 11:00 a.m., to 3:00 p.m., on Saturday with the awards given out immediately following the finals of the cook competition at 4:00 p.m. Free Shuttles are available leaving from the Post Office and City Hall. No parking available at the Lake.
The Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Rotary Club of North Cobb as proceeds of the event go to the charities of the North Cobb Rotary Club, including the Acworth Special Needs Field, End Polio Now, Mountain Top Boys Home, The Men’s Extension, The Women’s Extension, MUST Ministries, HERO, House of Hope in Haiti, Cobb Christmas, local Cobb schools and more.
For information, call (770) 423-1330, or visit www.smokeonthelake.org and follow us on facebook.
Pictured – Die-hard barbequers prepare to spend the night. Concert goes enjoy the cool lake breeze, dinner and a concert – it can’t get much better than this.
