There will be 16 barbecue vendors from all over the Midwest on-site, 11 dessert vendors, and a total of 72 participating vendors throughout the festival. The Budweiser Double Decker Party Bus is another popular attraction.
The Buckeye BBQ Fest will be held on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, at The Square @ Union Centre in West Chester. Up to 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the two-day, family-friendly event. On average, several hundred volunteers participate.
“I’ve been a 25-year resident of West Chester, and the chair of this event for four years, and I’ve seen a lot of excitement. We are the opening festival of the summer festival season. People really appreciate that opportunity to shake off their winter blues with a little blues, brews and BBQ,” Mathews said.
Buckeye BBQ Fest has again teamed up with the Cincy Blues Society to showcase 12 critically-acclaimed blues acts. The headliner for Friday night is Southern Avenue from 9:30 to 11. On Saturday, Noah Wotherspoon Band is the headlining act from 9:15 to 11 p.m.
The Hauser Air Kid Zone will offer inflatable rides and games on Friday and Saturday as well as face painting and caricature drawings. There will be a 12-animal petting zoo on Saturday from noon to 8:30 p.m.
Another aspect of the festival is the Extermital Car Show presented by Fiehrer Motors Inc. On Friday night, there will be 30 “club cars” in an open car show. (It’s not a cruise-in, but an invitation-only event. Pre-registered vehicles only.) On Saturday, there will be a judged, pre-1970’s classic car and open hot rod show with an award presentation on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. There will be about 40 cars highlighted on Saturday.
Proceeds from the event benefit The Rotary Club of West Chester/Liberty, and will go back into the local community to organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty, EDGE Teen Center, One Way Farm Children’s Home, Reach Out Lakota, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, among others. Rotary also works with local schools, providing over $10,000 scholarships to the Lakota School District, among other endeavors. Nationally, the club supports Backpacks for Pine Ridge. Rotary Club of West Chester/Liberty currently has close to 70 active members.
Contact this contributing writer at gmwriteon@aol.com.
How to go
What: Kingsgate Transportation Buckeye BBQ Fest
Where: The Square @ Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester
When: Friday, May 19 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Saturday, May 20 from noon to 11 p.m.
Cost: $5 per day, children ages 12 and under are free. Food and beverage items are available for purchase. $5 beers.
More info: www.BuckeyeBBQFest.org
Also: No coolers or pets allowed. (Service dogs only.)
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