The Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau and Downtown Calhoun will partner to present the first annual “BBQ Boogie & Blues” street festival this weekend, April 27-28, 2012. Co-sponsored by Mohawk Industries and The Georgia Lottery, the signature event of the two-day festival will be a barbecue contest that has been sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and declared a state championship competition by Governor Nathan Deal. BARD Holding will sponsor a backyard-grilling contest for amateurs that will also take place during the event. Registration forms for grilling contestants and food or craft vendors are available online at http://gordonchamber.org/liveandwork/barbecue_boogie_and_blues.aspx.

“We are excited to introduce this new event, which will replace ‘More Than A Taste of Calhoun’ and will include some exciting new activities,” said Suzanne Roland, Director of Downtown Development Authority and Chairman of the Chamber’s Convention & Visitors Bureau Committee. “We are confident that this festival will draw visitors to the area and give Gordon County residents a great reason to be in downtown Calhoun this weekend.”

Friday night’s activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a concert performance by The Tee Bumpass Band and a street dance. During the 8 p.m. intermission, baxter|dean studio will present a live runway show with Biddy Boutique, Shag, The Salon and The Fitting Room on Court Street. The fashion show will benefit the American Cancer Society and will feature local high school models. Food and drink vendors will be downtown until 11 p.m., when the Friday night activities draw to a close.

“There will be a number of simultaneous activities taking place Saturday, so there should be plenty of great choices for family-friendly entertainment on April 28,” said Roland. “There will be more than enough fun for everybody and we are looking forward to a top-quality event, thanks to our many sponsors and participants.”

Local entertainer Audi Burchett will perform on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Other performers, Thunderbolt Patterson and the Snake Doctors, will alternate throughout the rest of the day, from noon to 4 p.m. A Bicycle Ride benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association will be held from the Depot on Saturday, with the riders departing at 8:30 a.m. and wrapping up in the early afternoon.

The Chamber’s Young Professional Committee has organized an exciting Amazing Race that will involve ten different challenges centered on downtown Calhoun. Rock Bridge Church will sponsor a Kids Zone inside BB&T City Park, complete with Bouncy Houses and a variety of carnival games. Additional information is available from the Chamber at 706-625-3200.