| The barbeque cooking technique has been around for | | | | festival to one with over 300 BBQ teams competing. |
| hundreds of years, if not longer. While Florida is | | | | The festival raises money for local charity |
| geographically considered part of the American | | | | organizations and has generated over $100,000 over |
| "South," its residents are pretty representative of all | | | | the course of its 13 years. Besides offering up all the |
| regions of the country. For that reason, "barbeque" | | | | barbeque you could want, you can eat corn on the |
| can mean very different things to different Floridians. | | | | cob, baked beans, coleslaw, and much more. |
| Whether you prefer pork barbeque with | | | | Smoke on the Water is another one of the Central |
| vinegar-based sauce like you find throughout much of | | | | Florida attractions that true BBQ fans can't afford to |
| North Carolina, or Texas beef barbeque with tomato | | | | miss. The event is a Florida BBQ Association |
| sauce, you're sure to find a BBQ event to attend on | | | | sanctioned contest, and has raised over $250,000 for |
| your vacation to Florida. | | | | the youth of East Polk County over the past four |
| BBQ Beginnings | | | | years. Come out on your Central Florida vacation and |
| The origins of American barbeque date back to | | | | sample delicious barbeque recipes, experience all-day |
| colonial times. The method of cooking meat for long | | | | entertainment, and support a great cause - the local |
| periods of time over a fire originated in the | | | | youth. 100% of the funds raised go to the local |
| Southeast, where people learned to make the best | | | | Central Florida Boys & Girls Clubs. In 2010, the |
| out of rough cuts of meat by cooking them for a | | | | event takes place February 5-6. |
| long time to make them tender. Today there are | | | | If your Central Florida vacation is a couple weeks |
| many regional variations on the idea of barbeque, but | | | | later, visit Haines City for Ribs on the Ridge February |
| no matter where you live, the idea of barbeque | | | | 19-20. This is another Florida BBQ Association |
| conjures an image of good food, and time spent | | | | sanctioned contest where barbeque cooking teams |
| relaxing with family and friends. | | | | from all across the state and country compete for |
| Visit Florida and Compete in BBQ Contests | | | | cash prizes, trophies, and bragging rights. And for |
| Many Florida campgrounds offer ample room for you | | | | those looking for Central Florida attractions to attend |
| to barbeque meat, if that's what you'd like to do on | | | | in the fall, consider the Mulberry Fine Swine At The |
| your Central Florida vacation. But there are also many | | | | Pit. Held in 2010 on October 8-9, this sanctioned |
| annual sanctioned BBQ events that let you compete | | | | contest is an annual event provided by a non-profit |
| for prizes and make a name for yourself in the | | | | corporation to raise funds for charitable causes. |
| barbeque world. | | | | To help you determine what kind of barbeque you |
| The Lakeland Pig Fest is the Florida State Barbecue | | | | like, attend one of these many BBQ events on your |
| Championship, and it takes place at the end of | | | | next Central Florida vacation. Chances are you'll find |
| January every year. The next Fest will be January | | | | the type of barbeque that perfectly suits your taste |
| 29-30, 2010. Since 1997 it has grown from a small | | | | buds. |