By CYNTHIA McCLOUD
The Preston County News and Journal
KINGWOOD, W.Va. — Maybe you make killer ribs or put a secret ingredient in your barbecue sauce. Or perhaps your talents lie outside the kitchen. Or maybe you enjoy consuming rather than making food and live music. Regardless you’ll want to be at SPROUT’s Midsummer Festival from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 29 at the Cheat Fest Grounds, 167 Beech Run Rd., Albright.
(Submitted photo)
SPROUT stands for Supporting Preston Regrowth and Opportunity United Together. Alisa Kilkenny, a teacher, and Brittany Warnick, a business owner, founded it in April 2016 to give families in Preston County opportunities to connect with each other and local businesses.
One of those opportunities is the organization’s annual Midsummer Festival, which has added a barbecue cookoff and a talent competition in its second year.
“We wanted to get a platform for some local businesses to be able to sell and have families be able to go out and enjoy live music, where the kids could get up and dance,” Warnick said.
Admission to the Midsummer Festival is $10 for adults and free for kids.
This year, a portion of the proceeds will go to Friends of the Cheat for the Keith Pitzer Memorial Stage, because the watershed restoration and preservation group has allowed SPROUT to use the grounds where it holds Cheat Fest every year, Kilkenny said.
Attendees who want to cast a vote for People’s Choice in the barbecue cookoff will buy $10 tasting passes.
“Food will be available for purchase from competitors after judging,” Kilkenny said. “Other food vendors will be there all day.”
Barbecue cooks can enter any or all six categories — ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, beans and sauce — for $25 per category or $100 to enter all six. Winners get half the entry fees paid in their category.
“The barbecue competition is open to anyone nationwide, and we hope to have it Kansas City Barbeque Society certified next year so it’s a stop on the national trail,” Kilkenny said. “There are teams from across the state registered, and we are expecting more.”
Registrations — with proper health department, insurance and business information (if applicable) — are due July 21 to [email protected].
The performance entertainment begins at 11 a.m. with Preston’s Got Talent. Performers can enter for free; prizes will be awarded to the top three acts.
Simultaneously, there will be all-day back-to-back kids’ activities all day. Attractions include archery by Centershot Ministries.
“Local organizations are running carnival games as fund-raisers,” Kilkenny said. “Tickets will be 10 for $5.”
The groups will split their proceeds with the festival, she said.
Attendees can also shop these vendors: Tigerfly Soap Co., Paparazzi, Oaks & Derby Rock Chic, Bathfitter, Rada Cutlery, Younique, Got Wood?, Grace & Heart SS Jewelry, MTK Photography, LuLaRoe, Preston Pottery, Homemade Baked Goods by Marty & Davey, Tupperware, Doterra, Agnes & Dora and more.
Kilkenny said the festival is still accepting vendors, organizations to run carnival games, sponsors, competitors and volunteers. Contact her at [email protected].
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