August 25, 2014 Lincoln Daily News.com 2014 Art & Balloon Festival 57
bigger and better with three great contests
Up in Smoke on the Square
Celebrity Mark DeCarlo featured guest
W
hen talk began about five years ago, a few local barbeque enthusiasts
were cautiously optimistic. They thought that their shared passion for
barbequing might also be of interest to the community and create a nice draw to
the downtown during the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival. About 10 fellas that
were into smoking and BBQ competition began meeting together and planning.
The committee made contact with the leading authority on judging the best
barbecue in the country, the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
Now in its fourth
year, the downtown
Lincoln square is
filled with trucks
and campers over
the weekend.
Competitors sit
by the side of
their cookers
tending the
sweet smoking
meats and visit.
The aroma that fills
the square sets mouths to watering.
Several commercial barbequers are also
brought in during the event to sell their wares
and satisfy grumbling stomachs.
A couple of months ago, one of the original
and continuing committee members, Kevin
Bateman, announced that there had been a
tremendous response already from contestants
that wanted to come to Lincoln this year. He
said that there was no question that the event
was outgrowing the current downtown space
due to its popularity. With a limit of 54 spaces,
and 50 of those filled this year, the event has
been deemed successful.
This year, the Lincoln BBQ Committee,
Logan County Tourism Bureau, and the city
of Lincoln brought in food comedian Mark
DeCarlo to further enhance the event.
The popular TV and radio personality, food
and travel author, and celebrated chef Mark
DeCarlo spiced it all up with his good humor.
DeCarlo hosted all things barbecue over the
weekend. He did radio interviews, served
as Master of Ceremonies during the BBQ
contestant dinner, made contest award
presentations, and he hosted a live radio show
and a food demonstration/contest.
During the food demonstration on Saturday
afternoon, three women prepared their version
of guacamole. Those sitting in the front row of
the demonstration, held under the gigantic new
Story by Jan Youngquist
Continued
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Mark DeCarlo
