BBQ, Bands and Bottle Rockets calls on participants, volunteers

July 4 planning underway

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By AMANDA KIMBLE

TheFlashToday.com

Barbecue cook off.  Carnival games. Prizes. Homemade ice cream. Vendors. Manpower. Thousands of dollars for charity.

If you’re a grill master or a champion of the ice cream freezer, listen up. If you have gifts or goodies to peddle or flavorful foods and drinks to sell, you won’t want to miss it either. If you’re a nonprofit organization that would like to share a good time while raising funds for your cause or an individual who would like volunteer to bring miles of smiles to attendees, your opportunity awaits. If yours is a nonprofit that could use a financial boost, it’s time to apply.

Planning for the second annual BBQ, Bands & Bottle Rockets on the Bosque, held at Stephenville City Park, is underway. Organizers are calling on a full slate of participants to make the July 4 event bigger and better than last year.

In 2015, a small group of volunteers – the entire event was planned by a six-person board of directors – banded together to transform a fizzled out family fun fair into a full-fledged festival.

Once again, the event will get rolling immediately after the city’s July 4 parade and wind down with a boot-scooting bang as the summer night concert plays on Birdsong Amphitheatre and the annual fireworks display lights up the night sky.

After months of planning and organizing, board members said the crescendo of the 2015 festival was the thousands of dollars given to eight local nonprofit organizations – $10,000 donated to Backpack Buddies and an additional $8,000 divided between 10 other groups.

“For a first-year event, we raised a good bit of money, which was put back into the community to benefit organizations that serve Erath County residents,” board member Amber Parks said.

Parks explained said those funds – almost $20,000 – were collected through sponsorships, entry fees, kids zone bracelet sales.

“The 2016 event is less than three months away,” she said. “So the registration and application process is currently in full swing. There are a number of ways for community members to get involved.”

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BBQ Cook-off

The amateur cooking competition is made up of four-man teams firing up their grills and showing off their skills in three meat categories – brisket, pork and chicken. There’s a $150 entry fee per team, which was reduced from last year’s $300 admission.

There’s also an optional chef’s choice category, which can be entered at no additional cost.

First, second and third place winners will be named in each category. There will also be awards for Chef’s Choice and Best of Show.

Each team is responsible for providing their own meat, which must be prepared and cooked on site.

Volunteers are needed to serve as runners, manage check in, serve samples, and assist teams and judges during the event. 

Rules, regulations and a link to the official cook-off registration form can be found online at bbqbandsbr.com.

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Bands

Live musical entertainment will be provided throughout the event. Daytime performers, who will set up on the festival grounds day stage, will be selected by festival organizers.

Volunteers are being sought for setup and break down of the stage and equipment, as well as sound, monitoring and troubleshooting.

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Bottle Rockets

The children’s entertainment section of the festival, dubbed Bottle Rockets, is run by primarily by volunteers affiliated with nonprofit organizations. The booths are open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and include carnival-style games, bounce houses, water slides, obstacles, treats, face painting and more.

Nonprofits are asked to bring games and prizes. There is no fee to operate a booth, but the organization will receive a portion of the Bottle Rockets proceeds.

“They can give away food, hand out treats or bring their own game and prizes,” Parks said. “In the case that we have games that are sponsored but don’t have volunteers to work, nonprofits may also sign up to man those booths, but they would still need to supply some sort of prize – trinkets, small toys, candy or something else children will enjoy.”

Unlike this year, businesses also have the option to host a booth, but they must provide prizes and entertainment at no cost.

“Businesses will not receive a portion of the proceeds, but it is a great advertising opportunity and another way for local businesses to be involved in the event,” Parks said.

Guidelines, participant details and a Bottle Rockets booth application can be found at bbqbandsbr.com.

Children will get unlimited Bottle Rockets fun with the purchase of a bracelet, which will be sold at various locations in June for $5 each and available for $10 during the event. 

Ice Cream Freeze-Off

Blue Bell and the Blue Bunny are both banned from the homemade ice cream contest, and entrants must use dairy products to compete.

“First, second and third places and a People’s Choice Award will be presented,” Parks said. “Judging is based on flavor, presentation, appearance, aroma and texture.”

Participants must bring at least four quarts of ice cream to the event – for judging and a subsequent public tasting.

There is a $20 fee for each entry made prior to July 2. The fee is $25 if paid July 4.

You can find an ice cream competition registration form online, but make sure to check all the rules and specifications at the festival website, bbqbandsbr.com, first.

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Vendors

Food vendors who participated in the first annual BBQ, Bands and Bottle Rockets on the Bosque have first rights of refusal at this year, according to Parks.

“Since each food stations must be unique and menus must be approved by the festival food committee, vendors are encouraged to apply early,” she said. “If you want to tell sell tacos, burgers or other popular items, you’ll have a better chance to do so if you submit your application now.”

Food vendors must keep their booths open from the end of the parade through the nighttime fireworks display, which is about a 12-hour period.

“That is when most of the food vendors sold out last year,” Parks said, referring to the boom in business just before the fireworks show.

There is $175 food vendor fee, and vendors must provide proof of food handler license and tax identification.

Merchant vendor and information booth applications are being accepted with a $75 fee. Vendors must supply a list of items that will be sold, tax identification number and must remain open until 5 p.m.

Information booths, new this year, can be used by nonprofits and other groups to share details about their services or cause.

“We don’t allow nonprofits to solicit members or donations in the Bottle Rockets area because it serves the sole purpose of entertaining children,” Parks said. “Information booths allow them to share their information.”

Additional details and application for vendor and information booths are online at bbqbandsbr.com.

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Sponsorships

“We are in need of sponsors of all levels,” Parks said. “The event itself would not be possible without sponsorships – individuals, families, businesses and organizations who make financial contributions to the event. Their donations help cover basic expenses. More importantly, their contributions increase the donations the festival returns to local nonprofits.”

Nine sponsorship level range in cost form the red, white and blue levels – $500, $250 and $100, respectively – up to the $8,000.

Sponsorship benefits vary by level and include recognition in festival promotion, entry into the Bottle Rockets kids section and more.

A sponsorship form and additional details can be found online at bbqbandsbr.com.

Charity Spotlight

The greater portion of the proceeds from sponsorships and entry fees is given back to the community through a single selected nonprofit organization.

“The $10,000 we were able to give to Backpack Buddies last year made a huge different for that organization,” Parks said. “It allowed them to ensure more children have the nutrition they need. We hope to make an even greater impact in 2016.”

To be considered, organizations must complete an application at bbqbandsbr.com.

For more information, email spotlight@bbqbandsbr.com

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Volunteer

“Giving back is important, but it means we start each year without a budget and with not much more than a handful of dedicated board members who have full-time jobs and families of their own,” Parks said. “With that said, we need all of the help we can get and hope to see more people join us this year. Every aspect of the event needs volunteers.”

A volunteer interest form can be found on the festival website.

Stay Connected

Information on the upcoming festival is available on several platforms, according to Parks who said the festival committee requests that everyone share the information to help spread the word about BBQ, Bands, and Bottle Rockets on the Bosque. 

You can receive and share information through a number of outlets:

Text message notifications – TEXT:@july4thbbb TO: 81010 

Register for email updates at july4thbbb@mail.remind.com

Search the festival’s official hashtag  #July4thBBB

Add and Follow

Official website – bbqbandsbr.com

GOOGLE+ – BBQ, Bands & Bottle Rockets

Facebook – BBQ, Bands & Bottle Rockets on the Bosque

Twitter – BBQBandsBrocket

Instagram -BBABANDSBOTTLEROCKETS

“Volunteers, sponsors and participants – they are all needed,” Parks said. “Let’s all work together to make this year’s festival one our children will remember for years to come.” 

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