Event organizers held an information lunch for members of the media Tuesday at the Downtown Farmers Market, in anticipation of the event on September 24-26. Dozens of barbeque cookers will compete for prizes and sell their meat and sides, while other organizations will offer just about anything else you can imagine to accompany your meal.
David Boggs from Barbeque on the River said a new twist this year is inclusion of the Farmer's Market in the 2nd Street Beer Garden. The Farmer's Market Fall Festival will move to Broadway between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
"There will be vendors all day on Saturday, there will be a small stage there with some low-key entertainment. People can just saunter up there, maybe it's not going to be as crowded as everything else, and just really enjoy the great barbeque," Boggs said.
He said the growth of the beer garden from one location with a few beverage choices to two locations is tremendous, and he added that Schlafly Beer will join the line-up of available "adult beverages," along with Budweiser and others.
Matt Austin of Panathinaikos West Kentucky Soccer Club, which is hosting the 2nd Street Beer Garden, said 13 faithful Schlafly beer flavors will be available, along with 3 of their premium beers. Jim Beam bourbons will also be available, along with local wines and margaritas. Austin said the atmosphere will hopefully be a little more laid back at their beer garden.
Austin said, "Not the hustle and bustle down at the main stage, but some place where people can just come and sit, enjoy some craft beers, enjoy some food, and some good music."
Austin said the club gets its unusual name from the national Panathinaikos organization, which approached Austin because of the high quality of soccer played here. They wanted one club in every state to organize local-based travel teams for area youth soccer players. Austin said the beer garden helps the club, which benefits kids who really want to play soccer but might not be able to afford to play for a traveling team.
Austin said Panathinaikos helps kids prepare to play in high school, and may have contributed to some players getting college scholarships. The national club also offers a residential program where kids can go to Greece, meet professional players, and play at local clubs in that country. For more information on Panathinaikos West Kentucky, visit www.paosswestkentucky.us .
The most current information on Barbeque on the River is available is at the link below.
On the Net:
http://www.bbqontheriver.org
