DECATUR’S RIVERFEST NAMED AN ALABAMA TOP 25 FOOD EVENT

Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Tourism Department has named Riverfest one of 25 top food events in celebration of the 2012 Year of Alabama Food. The list is compiled in conjunction with the year-long promotion designed to attract tourists to Alabama to experience the rich cultural flavors of the South.

Riverfest joins top events such as the Orange Beach Seafood Festival, Chilton County Peach Festival in Clanton, Oktoberfest in Cullman, and Alabama Pecan Festival in Mobile. A complete list of the top 25 food festivals and events can be found in the Sweet Home Alabama 2012 Calendar of Events published by the Alabama Tourism Department. A copy may be requested at www.alabama.travel. The 2012 Year of Alabama Food is the ninth in a series of marketing campaigns produced by the Alabama Tourism Department. For more information, visit www.yearofalabamafood.com.

 Hosted by the Decatur Jaycees, Riverfest offers fun for the entire family with music and lip-smacking barbeque along the banks of the Tennessee River. The 18^th annual event is set for September 14-15, 2012 at Ingalls Harbor. Riverfest is recognized by the State of Alabama as an official State Barbeque Championship competition and is sanctioned by, and conducted under, the rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Competing for prize money and trophies totaling $20,000, the BBQ cook-off is open to professional and amateur teams. The Grand Champion winner of Riverfest automatically qualifies for the American Royal World Championship Barbecue Cook-off in Kansas City, Mo., and is entered into the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational drawing.

 Live music featuring popular local and regional bands entertains the crowd on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Country music singer-songwriter Lee Brice will headline this year’s event. Slated to perform on Friday are Moulton-based Southern Comfort, Southern rock band Doubleshot, Nashville singer-songwriter Brent Cobb, and Brice. Saturday’s lineup includes Gadsden native Albert Simpson, the Decatur band Wheelers, Newgrass band Rollin’ in the Hay, and Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Tuesday’s Gone.

 Along with the BBQ cook-off and music, there are food vendors offering barbeque from mild to fiery and other traditional festival food and a free children's area.

 For more information on Riverfest, visit www.decaturjaycees.com.