The All American BBQ has a new home and a new event to go with it.
The Warren County Fairgrounds will be the site of the All American BBQ Festival and Regions Pro/Am Archery Tour on July 18-21.
The entire event is free and there is free parking for the public.
"We were approached by Regions Archery and presented with the opportunity to host a national Pro-Am tournament in Warren County, but the only weekend they had available was the weekend of the BBQ Festival. Logistically hosting two major events at two locations simultaneously was going to be difficult for our small staff and volunteers," Melissa Anderson, the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry's director of chamber operations, said.
The archery tournament is for all ages and skill levels, from amateur to pro, and includes youth, men and women classes. The archery tour requires at least 100 acres of wooded area and enough room to host 600 to 800 archers and their families. A number of concerts are also planned over the weekend along with the All American BBQ Festival.
John Papalia Jr., WCCBI director of chamber operations, said the WCCBI didn't want to pass up the opportunity to host the event. After looking at when the tournament could come to Warren County, the decision was made to merge the All American BBQ Festival with Regions Pro/Am Archery Tour.
Looking at introducing a large crowd of archers from out of town to Warren County who can camp at the fairgrounds and eat at local restaurants, "losing the Regions was an option we couldn't take," Papalia said.
"Upon approaching the fair board, we were able to come to an agreement on the use of their facilities to host both events," Anderson said.
Anderson said the a number of volunteers are needed for the weekend to help out with the events to show off Warren County and encourage participants and the tournament to come back.
"It's a great building block for our area," she said.
Merging the tournament with the All American Burger Festival will help Warren County stand out as a host as well, she said.
"We believe that these events will have a positive impact on Warren County businesses, and look forward to an exciting new relationship with the Warren County Fairgrounds," Anderson said.
Information on the All American BBQ Festival and Regions Pro/Am Archery Tour is available online at www.wccbi.org and the All American BBQ Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AllAmericanBbqFestival.