ATHENS, Ga. - The Classic City BBQ Festival is now taking applications for food vendors, Tailgate Tradeshow exhibitors and various cooking competitions

ATHENS, Ga. – The Classic City BBQ Festival is now taking applications for food vendors, Tailgate Tradeshow exhibitors and various cooking competitions.

The third annual Classic City BBQ Festival heats up Aug. 14-15 at The Classic Center in downtown Athens. The family-friendly festival, which last year attracted more than 2,400 people, will feature professional and backyard barbecue contests, local barbecue restaurant vendors, an outdoor music stage, classic car show, barbecue and craft beer samples, and tailgate tradeshow.

The festival is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and is an official Georgia BBQ Championship 2015 Tour Event.

Vendor Opportunities

· Vendors are invited to purchase a food booth to sell barbecue or other festival favorites. Food vendor booths start at $500. Choose an indoor location in the Grand Hall or Atrium, or select an outside location near the outdoor music stage and professional cook teams.

· The Tailgate Tradeshow on Saturday, Aug. 16 will feature vendors showcasing vehicles, grills, clothing, food products and more. Single, double and triple booths are available. Booths begin at $200.

Cooking Competitions

· More than 30 teams will compete for a $10,000 total prize purse in the Professional BBQ Competition. The registration fee is $300.

· Up to 20 Backyard BBQ competitors will be vying for a $1,000 total prize purse. The registration fee is $150. Anyone is eligible to compete, as long as they have not won a grand champion prize at a previous backyard contest.

· Eight teams will compete Saturday, August 15 in the Restaurant Iron Chef Competition. The contestants will not know what they will be cooking until that afternoon, when they receive their protein donated by Buckhead Beef. All contestants will be supplied a Big Green Egg grill, thanks to the Georgia Spa Company. The contest entry fee is $150.

Visit ClassicCityBBQFest.com to sign up for any of these opportunities, or contact Stephanie VanDyck at Stephanie@ClassicCenter.com or 706-357-4417.