Booo-B-Q event this year is promoting Delaware Children in Nature program

REHOBOTH BEACH – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation will host the second-annual “Booo-B-Que By the Sea,” a two-day barbeque cook-off competition beginning Friday, Oct. 21, at Delaware Seashore State Park. The event features a wide variety of family-friendly activities, including a unique 5k Run/Walk over the Indian River Bridge and inlet pathways on Saturday, Oct. 22. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Delaware Children in Nature Endowment Fund, which affords opportunities for young people to participate in outdoor experiences.

“The first Booo-B-Que was a smashing success, and we are excited to bring the event back for its second year,” said Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens. “We expect to see even larger crowds this year and are thrilled to benefit the Delaware Community Foundation’s Children in Nature Endowment. Also, our hosting the event at Delaware Seashore State Park offers the unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the Indian River Inlet while enjoying some of the best BBQ on the Atlantic Coast.”

The Booo-B-Que – the name comes from its taking place during the Halloween season – is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), a competitive cooking organization and the world’s largest non-profit group of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts, with more than 20,000 members worldwide. Every year, KCBS sanctions more than 450 BBQ contests worldwide, with the mission of recognizing barbeque as “America’s Cuisine,” and “to celebrate, teach, preserve and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport and art form.”

BBQ competitors from up and down the East Coast from as far as New York, North Carolina, and Connecticut are expected to compete for the opportunity to be named the best BBQ chef in these parts and to win up to $10,000 in prize money. The Booo-B-Que also has the distinction of hosting the state championship for barbeque, and will help one competitor earn an invitation to the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational in 2017. To enter the BBQ competition, both pro and backyard grillers should contact event organizer Sandy Fulton at sandyfulton720@gmail.com.

The Booo-B-Que will be held in the south inlet day use and campground areas of Delaware Seashore State Park. The event features 30-plus food and craft brew vendors, live music, a Jeep show, trick-or-treating, a kids’ costume competition, and an opportunity for visitors to sample and select the “people’s choice award” winners for chicken wings.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, a live auction for low digit surf fishing tags will be held. This year’s auction will feature a once in a lifetime opportunity to bid on surf fishing tag #1. “Delawareans love low-digit license plates and surf fishing tags,” said Parks Director Bivens. “Last year’s auction raised significant funding for the Park system, and we are excited to offer Delaware Surf-Fishing Tag #1 this year.” The live auction will include a select number of low-digit surf plates. The black and white tags have a unique vintage look with raised letters. Bidding will open at $250. The winning bidder for each tag will receive a certificate of authenticity. Once purchased, owners will retain the tag as long as they have a valid Delaware surf fishing permit. All revenue raised from the program will directly benefit Delaware State Parks and surf fishing beach access.

The Booo-B-Q by the Sea Festival’s schedule of events includes:

Friday, Oct. 21:
4 p.m.: Event opens
4:15 p.m.: Tony Windsor – “40 Years of Country”
5-8 p.m.: People’s Choice Wing Competition
5-9 p.m.: Music by Bo Dickerson Band
6 p.m.: KIDS Trick or Treat
6:30-8 p.m.: Bonfire
7 p.m.: Booo-B-Q Social media photo contest
7 p.m.: Guided Bridge Walk (Meet at Bonfire)

Saturday, Oct. 22:
9 a.m.: 5K Run/Walk kicks off
10:30 a.m.: 5K Run/Walk awards
11 a.m.: Booo-B-Q Festival kicks off
Noon-2:30 p.m.: Music by Tom Larsen Band
Noon-4 p.m.: Jeep “Show N’ Shine”
2 p.m.: “Kids-Que” Competition
2:30 p.m. Auction of Delaware Surf Tag-Low Numbers
3:30 p.m.: Best costume competition, Best decorated booth
4-6 p.m.: “Parks Style” pumpkin decorating
5 p.m.: Awards For BBQ Competition
5:30 p.m.: Mini-Jeep Raffle winner announced
6 p.m.: Naturalist program: “Bats and the Blue Bridge”
6:30-8 p.m.: Bonfire and marshmallow roast
7 p.m.: Shipwreck Storytelling: Tragic Tales from Delaware Seashore’s past
7 p.m.: Announcement of social media photo contest winner

Partners and sponsors of the 2nd Annual Booo-B-Que are hoping to raise awareness for Children in Nature and the push to get families outdoors and active. Sussex Outdoors, a public awareness campaign focused on increasing outdoor family activities in Delaware, is one of a number of partners sponsoring the event. “Delaware State Parks provides some of the finest outdoor opportunities in the country and is a perfect setting for getting people outdoors,” said John Hollis, Sussex Outdoors director. “You could not ask for a better backdrop than Delaware Seashore State Park and we’re excited to work with so many great community partners to create a fun family-centered event at this beautiful site.”

In addition to Sussex Outdoors, Booo-B-Q event partners include Memphis BBQ Grills, Boys & Girls Clubs, Walgreens, Discover Bank, Nemours, and numerous other community partners investing in Delaware’s quality of life initiatives.

A special event fee of $5 per person will be in effect for the festival. In support of Children in Nature, all children ages 12 and under receive free admission. Visitors interested in making a weekend out of the festivities can join the fun and get a 20 percent discount on RV campsites at Delaware Seashore State Park for the event. Reservations can be made online at http://delawarestateparks.reserveamerica.com/ or by calling 877-987-2757 and using promotional code BBQ2016.

For more information on the Booo-B-Que Family BBQ Competition, and festivities, visit http://www.destateparks.com/boo-bq/ or http://www.boo-bqrun.com/ to enter the 5K Run/Walk. To sponsor this event and/or the Children in Nature Initiative please contact Caroline Foltz at (302) 739-9185.
For more information on the low digit surf tag auction, visit http://www.destateparks.com/lowdigittag/

CONTACT: Abby Shepard, DNREC Division of Parks & Recreation Marketing, 302-739-9933, or Greg Abbott, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9203

Vol. 46, No. 355

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