Bloomin' Barbecue & Bluegrass -- a weekend of Smoky Mountain Food, Fun, & Entertainment, May 18-19

SEVIERVILLE, TN -- Sevierville's eighth annual Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass will take place May 18-19, 2012. 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.

On Friday night (May 18), the "Que Zone" will feature barbeque cook teams seen on cable channels like the Food Network. Bring a lawn chair for the free bluegrass concerts with rising stars and legends of the bluegrass genre.

On Saturday, May 19 the day starts early as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Winners will be announced at 4pm. 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.

The Music Outlet is helping sponsor an expanded Kids' Zone and the Bluegrass Music Tent which will 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 8th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals held on Saturday, May 19. Finalists from around the nation will sing for a chance to win prize money, a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee and a guitar autographed by Dolly Parton. This competition 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.

Published May 13, 2012