ROCKINGHAM — A few changes are coming to SpringFest this year, in terms of layout and entertainment, as well as a new addition to the festivities.
The April 8 event will now feature a barbecue cooking contest.
“Smithfield Hog Production has partnered with us to do a Boston Butt cook-off competition,” said Kim Willams, city events coordinator.
The entry fee for the cook-off — will be held in the old R.W. Goodman parking lot — is $200 per team, with a first-place prize winners receiving $1,000, second-place cookers get $500 and the third-place team gets $300. The deadline to register is March 31 and packets can be picked up at city hall.
Williams said she never realized how competitive, the cook-off would be, with several groups in the community already signing up, including Tree ‘em Up Smokers and the Rockingham Fire Department. She said she’s even had interest from Laurinburg.
“The teams will not be selling the barbecue (for the cook-off),” Williams said. “Once the competition is over and the winners are announced, then the remaining meat will either be given away, teams will take it home with them, or we’ll donate to a local shelter.”
For entertainment this year, Ally Roberts and Robert Smith will perform from noon to 12:30 followed by Kyle Garris, with country band Confederate Railroad taking the stage as the headlining band from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Last year, former American Idol contestant Bucky Covington was the key performer.
“I try to do that kind of music at SpringFest, because Plaza Jam is tailored toward beach music,” Williams said.
The festival, now in its second year, will feature four food vendors and multiple merchandise and craft vendors. Williams said she has enough food vendors, but is still seeking other vendors to surround Harrington Square.
“Anything unique,” she said. “Just unique things people want to look at, see, touch. That’s what we’re looking for.”
Vendor applications are available on the city’s website and can also be picked up from city hall.
Two returning attractions, the kids’ zone and the cruise-in, will be in different locations from last year. The cruise-in will be in the PNC Bank parking lot, and the kids’ area will be in the lower BB&T parking lot. The N.C. Forest Service and and highway safety activities will be in a separate part of the BB&T lot.
There will also be a beer garden again this year, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, as well as a display for the lawn mower races in Ellerbe, which begin that night.
Williams said the festival wouldn’t be possible without support from sponsors Duke Energy, Pee Dee Electric, Smithfield, the N.C. Forest Service, Farm Bureau and the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority.
Williams said last year’s event drew about 2,500 people to the downtown area, and she’s expecting the same crowd this year.
SpringFest was planned to work in conjunction with the Run for the Ribbons 5K at Discovery Place Kids, with the idea behind it being to keep visitors downtown.
“We want to show off what we’ve got — and make them come back,” she said.
For information on becoming a vendor or sponsor, contact Williams at 910-895-9088.
Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.