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The 2009 version of the Boone Hall BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival proved to be the most successful yet in the five year history of this event. Over 4,000 people attended this year’s event that is gaining in popularity and size…and is the perfect way to cap off Labor Day Weekend. From families seeking to spend a fun filled day together...to the college crowd...to Bluegrass lovers of all ages...this festival has something for everybody.
Nationally known Bluegrass entertainment is becoming the highlight of this South Carolina Lowcountry event which is presented on Boone Hall’s beautiful back lawn.
In keeping with the trend, Boone Hall was proud to present 14 time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs and his Kentucky Thunder band as featured performers at this year's event. Skaggs has experienced success that few artists in the music industry are able to achieve. During the early part of his career, he rose to the top of the mainstream country music world. During recent years, Ricky Skaggs has become recognized as the ambassador for bluegrass music as he and Kentucky Thunder amaze and entertain audiences from all over with their outstanding brand of music. Their appearance at Boone Hall was no different as the largest audience in the festival's history cheered in appreciation as Ricky and the boys performed for over 90 minutes.
Also appearing this year was one of the fastest rising Bluegrass acts in the country, The Carolina Chocolate Drops. The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a group of young African-American stringband musicians that have come to together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music in the Carolinas’ piedmont. This unique and talented trio put on a fantastic show and their performance was a smash hit. Local Lowcountry bluegrass favorites Jimmy Stone and The Southland Boys and Homeboy Reunion, rounded out this year’s bluegrass performers.
Plenty of good 'ole southern cooked barbecue was available and enjoyed by most in attendance as were hot dogs, hamburgers, and homemade churned ice cream. Ice cold beer, a variety of cold drinks, and other types of food were also enjoyed.
Locals and amateurs showed off their barbecue cooking prowess as over $3,000 in cash and prizes were awarded in several categories of competition.
The popular Mechanical Bull Riding Contest had 23 entries with the winner taking home an HDTV courtesy of WTAT FOX 24. The celebrity dunking booth featured an expanded list of celebrities who were good sports in allowing themselves to get wet to help raise money for the American Red Cross. Special thanks to Rowdy Nites of WEZL 103.5, Brendan Clark of WCBD News2, Dave Williams with WCIV ABC4, Rocky D of WTMA 1250AM, and Ted Byrne with 910 WTMZ ESPN The Team who helped raise a record amount for this event. Special thanks also to Bill Burr, morning anchor for WCSC Live 5 News and The FOX Morning News…and to WEZL morning radio personality Ric Rush, who emceed the event.
The kids loved the jump castles, the games, and the festival type food like funnel cakes and more. The day concluded with a fireworks show, an appropriate way to end this spectacular festival. This is the fifth year for this event at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., near historic Charleston.
Boone Hall was again grateful to have BB&T Bank as a primary sponsor, and were also proud to welcome Pearlstine Distributors and Pepsi of Charleston as main sponsors for this year's summer concert series. WEZL FM 103.5 was the main media sponsor for this event.
The owners and staff at Boone Hall want to thank all who attended and helped put on this year’s event and without whose help this event could not have been a success. Plans are already underway to make the 2010 version of this event an even bigger event…but the work to achieve that is cut out. This year’s event has set the bar pretty high. Check back here for future updates and details.
Sponsored By
Special Thanks To:
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