Sevierville’s 13th Annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Set for May 19-20

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Sevierville’s 13th annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival takes place May 19-20 in downtown Sevierville. The festival is free and open to the public.

This family-friendly event once again brings barbecue cook teams from the United States to Sevierville to compete for $17,500 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.

Guests can meet the barbecue cook teams, as seen on cable channels like the Food Network in the “Que Zone.” Free bluegrass concerts with rising stars and legends of the bluegrass genre occur all day. Friday night’s lineup includes Hogslop String Band, Paul Williams & The Victory Trio, The Church Sisters and headliner Kicked Off the Train (founding members of Pine Mountain Railroad).

Saturday’s entertainment starts 10 a.m. with performances from local dance troupes and the music begins at noon with Grammy winner and Sevierville native Bill Mize, followed by Mountain Ruckus (presented by Dixie Stampede), Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers and Saturday night’s headliner, the legendary Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.

On Saturday, the competition starts early. Watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Then stay for the announcement of barbecue champs at 4 p.m. During the competition, the teams cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, five pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams receive recognition in chicken, ribs, pork and brisket and specialty categories like “Anything Bush Beans”, “Anything Swaggerty’s Farm Sausage”, sauce and dessert.

The Kids’ Zone adds fun and enrichment for kids and families all day until 9 p.m. Bounce houses, face painters, and old-time toys can be found. New for this year, enjoy a Euro Bungee trampoline, trackless train, and carnival style games. Guests can spend some time in the new Public Works Discovery Zone where kids can check out some of the heavy equipment Sevierville’s Public Works Department uses every day.

Musicians can get in on the fun during Friday night’s Late Night Jam presented by Dixie Stampede. The jam, which takes place 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday May 19 at Courthouse Donuts in downtown Sevierville.

The 13th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals is May 20. Finalists from around the nation sing their hearts out for a chance to win cash and prizes. This competition, the only one of its kind that festival organizers know of, honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton. Competitors, male and female, must sing a song written by Dolly Parton (there are more than 3,000) and do so in their own style (rock, rap, country, bluegrass, swing, soul).

The People’s Choice Tasting Contest presented by Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner Show, allows event-goers to sample and vote for their favorite championship pulled pork from participating teams 2:30-3:30 p.m. May 20. A new element to this year’s event is two lines – a Gold Line and a Blue Line. Patrons choose the line they want to sample from when purchasing their tickets. Guests can purchase tickets for $15 in advance by calling the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce at 865-453-6411 or at the festival.

For more information, call 888-889-7415 or visit www.BloominBBQ.com. 

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