Thursday, June 20, 2013

Safeway's 21st Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle


From our friends at Safeway's National Capital Barbecue Battle...

21st Annual Safeway Barbecue Battle Event Celebrates Two Decades of Great Food, Music and Fun in the Nation's Capital - June 22-23

Safeway's Barbecue Battle has been bringing great food, music and fun to the streets of the Nation's Capital for more than two decades. Signaling the beginning of summer, June 22nd and 23rd, the Safeway Barbecue Battle is one of Washington's largest and most unique food and music festivals offering the greater DC-area community and visitors a chance to enjoy some of America's favorite pastimes in the shadow of the Capitol Building.

The two-day festival includes delicious barbecue and taste treats of all kinds, two days of non-stop musical and family entertainment, and one of the nation's most exciting barbecue cooking competitions. While entertaining tens of thousands of food, music and fun-lovers, the Safeway Barbecue Battle has also raised over $1.3 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and donated goods and funds to other area charities over the years.

Pennsylvania Avenue will be smoking with great barbecue served up by vendors from across the country while top barbecue chefs and teams battle to win over $40,000 in cash and prizes in the Safeway National Barbecue Championship, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS.) The ever-popular Safeway Sampling Pavilion showcases a line-up of deliciously tempting free food samples while celebrity chefs and cookbook authors entertain on the Safeway Demonstration Stage. The BBQ Legends area at the Battle features stars of BBQ from TV's popular "Pitmasters" show with tastings, book signings and demos. This year's event will also kick-off an exciting new contest pitting top military chefs against each other in friendly combat to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

There's something for all kinds of music-lovers with 30 bands and family entertainment on multiple stages along with interactive exhibits providing hands-on and virtual fun for all. Besides all the great food, music, cooking and competition, there's plenty for kids of all ages to enjoy. Kids rides and sports attractions, including NBA basketball stars and on-site court action, help make the Safeway Barbecue Battle the perfect way to kick off summer in Washington!

The Safeway Barbecue Battle has received many distinctions over the years including being named "One of 5 Can't Miss Summer Festivals in the US" by CNN Travel, a "Top 10 BBQ event" by the Travel Channel and Discovery.com and many other accolades over the decades. The event is covered extensively on national and international television, as well as on radio, print and online media.

For more information about this unique annual Washington celebration please visit: www.bbqdc.com or call (202) 828-3099. Connect with the Safeway Barbecue Battle on Twitter @bbqdc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/National.Capital.Barbecue.Battle. We'll see you at the BBQ.