Alpharetta Grilling and Gridiron Tailgate Party On Saturday

A tailgate party will be held on Saturday to crown the next Alpharetta grilling champion.

The Lionheart School will host its second annual Grilling and Gridiron Tailgate Party along Old Roswell Street on Saturday, Sept. 13 in downtown Alpharetta.

Community groups and restaurants will set up shop to create dishes that will be sampled by attendees, who will then vote for this year’s campion. The event is free for those who want to watch the football game.

Tickets to participate in the various tastings can be purchased online. Proceeds benefit The Lionheart School, which provides support for children who “need a specialized learning environment, therapeutic interventions, supported social interactions and strategies to accommodate their individual profiles,” its website states.

Like last year’s inaugural event, this year’s festivities will include an 8’ x 12’ LED screen broadcasting the University of Georgia vs. South Carolina game; grilling stations set up tailgate style, featuring tastes of grilled chicken, beef, and other delights for tasting; beer tasting with craft beers from Georgia, South Carolina and other SEC states who will vie for the ultimate contest to see who brews the best beer; and music performances throughout the event area.

This year’s Grilling and Gridiron schedule is as follows:

• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Grilling begins.
• 2 p.m.: Tailgating, judging and entertainment, sale of bracelets for grill and beer tasting and grill tasting all get underway (Tickets are $20 for grill tasting only, and $250 to reserve a table near the TV screen with eight grilling and beer tasting bracelets).
• 3:30 p.m.: UGA vs. South Carolina game starts
• 4 p.m.: Grill tasting ends

The halftime awards ceremony will also start at 4 p.m. Awards that will be given out are Grillmaster of Alpharetta: Best in Show, Crowd Favorite Restaurant, Crowd Favorite Community Group, Best Tailgate and Children’s Choice Award (selected by Lionheart students).

Parking for the event will be at the downtown parking lot (located at 37 Old Roswell Street), the Milton Center or along Milton Avenue.

For grilling and tasting information, contact Mary Ulich at The Lionheart School at 770-772-4555 or mulich@thelionheartschool.com.