Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que returns for second year

The second Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Bluegrass Festival will be held Friday and Saturday at The Hippodrome in North Augusta.

Headlining this year's show will be The Old Crow Medicine Show.

Bands from the 2010 festival, including Little Roy and Lizzy, Chatham County Line, Peachtree Station, The Whiskey Gentry and Crosstie Walkers, will return after proving to be fan favorites at the inaugural festival last year. Joining this year's lineup will be Doc Watson and David Holt, Frontier Ruckus, and Charlie Parr and the Black Twigg Pickers.

"We've got a total of 13 bands this year, so it's going to be huge," said Christy Beckham with marketing and special events at the A.B. Beverage Co.

Beckham said last year's event brought out about 5,000 people over the course of the weekend.

"This year we are hoping to double that; ideally we'd like to have around 10,000 (people)," she said.

The festival offers much more than just live bluegrass music - attendees are sure to enjoy on-site barbecues, craft beer and pig races. Children can look forward to a petting zoo and carnival rides.

Aside from the music and fun, contests will be held throughout the weekend, including a steak cook-off on Friday night where the winner will receive $1,000 plus bragging rights after the event sponsors decide who can cook up the meanest red meat.

On Saturday, a barbecue cook-off, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, will include barbecue cookers from all over the country who will compete for $40,000 in prize money.

"This is one of the biggest cook-offs in the country," said Beckham, adding that there are four categories in the barbecue cook-off contest: pork, ribs, chicken and brisket, and prize money will be divided among different category winners and one grand-prize winner.

All proceeds from Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Festival and Barbecue Cook-off will benefit the Joseph R. Pond Memorial Foundation.

The event was created to honor the former A.B. Beverage Co. owner, the late Joseph "Papa Joe" Pond, who fought a seven-year battle with cancer before passing away in 2006.

"If you knew Joe Pond, you loved him," the official festival website reads. "He could often be found walking the halls of A.B. Beverage Co. where his dry wit and grizzly bear 'hello' brought smiles to the faces of his staff ... Combining the things Papa Joe loved most - great music, delicious food and a fun atmosphere for the entire family, Banjo-B-Que's inaugural festival was a great achievement and this year's event is sure to build on that success."

Tickets are $15 for Friday admission only. Saturday tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. A weekend festival pass is $30. Kids 12 and younger are free. Tickets are available at Boots, Bridles & Britches in Aiken and Grovetown, Communigraphics in North Augusta and Fireside Outdoor Kitchens & Grills in downtown Augusta. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketalternative.com.

Want to go?

What? Papa Joe's 2nd annual Banjo-B-Que Bluegrass Festival

When? Memorial Day weekend; Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28

Where? The Hippodrome - 5540 Jefferson Davis Hwy., North Augusta

Cost: $30 for a weekend festival pass; $15 for Friday only; $20 in advance and $25 at the gate for Saturday. Kids 12 and under are free.

Ticket locations: Available at Boots, Bridles & Britches in Aiken and Grovetown, Communigraphics in North Augusta and Fireside Outdoor Kitchens & Grills in downtown Augusta. Also available online at www.ticketalternative.com.

For more information: www.banjobque.com

Contact Ashleey Williamson at awilliamson@aikenstandard.com.