FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: info@northalabama.org
Battle of the Barbeque
Annual WhistleStop Weekend in Downtown Huntsville May 3-4
Decatur, Ala. – Plenty of activities to keep the entire family busy are on tap the first weekend in May in downtown Huntsville, Ala. WhistleStop Weekend returns May 3-4, 2019, offering two days of live music, craft beer, corn hole competitions, professional and amateur barbeque competitions and tastings.
Each year more than 25,000 attendees converge on the grounds of the Historic Huntsville Depot for a weekend of barbeque action on the grill as live music fills the air. The barbeque competition contains three divisions: a professional division sanctioned by Kansas City Barbeque Society, the Kid’s Q for children 8 to 14 years old, and the Shade Tree (amateur) division. Festivalgoers have two opportunities to sample and vote for their favorite team. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd, the public decides the winner of the Wing Thing contest (nominal fee to sample and vote). From 1 to 3 p.m., festival goers can visit the Shade Tree cooking teams who will have Boston butt samples to taste for the People’s Choice Awards. Festivalgoers vote for their favorite by placing money in a jar provided at the cook-site.
The Alabama Cornhole Championship gets underway on Friday, May 3rd with play beginning at 8 p.m. The competition continues on Saturday at noon (singles) and 5 p.m. (doubles). A total prize purse of $1500 is up for grabs.
In honor of Alabama’s bicentennial, WhistleStop will be hosting an incredible Alabama Music Mashup, paying tribute to iconic music made famous by Alabama musicians. The entertainment line-up will feature national touring tribute bands and local acts with tributes to Jimmy Buffett, the band Alabama and Hank Williams Jr.
As music fills the air, a Kid’s Zone offers plenty of activities for children to enjoy and adults are invited to check out a variety of beers from several local and regional breweries, such as Rocket Republic, Back Forty, Mad Malts and Ole Shed at the Craft Beer Pit, located behind the Round House.
All activities take place on the grounds of the Historic Huntsville Depot located at 320 Church Street. Entrances are at the Church Street and Monroe intersections, the Church Street entrance of the Depot and on Meridian Street across from Walker Avenue. Festival hours are Friday 4 to 11 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission per person (ages 11+) is $25 and youth (ages 3-10 years old) is $5. VIP packages are also available. Proceeds support the history education initiatives of the EarlyWorks Family of Museums. For more information, visit www.whistlestopweekend.com or call 256.564.8100.
About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org.
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