Smoke on the Lake BBQ: Fun and Sun

Fun, sun, music and great barbecue for an equally great cause were the order of the day at the Saturday session of the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Fest at .

The yearly event, co-hosted by the and the Rotary Club of North Cobb, raises money for various local charities and Rotary International Charities.

Mayor Tommy Allegood, working one of the dozens of BBQ tents alongside Jimmy and Joe Durham, spoke warmly of the event and its' impact on those in need in the area and around the world.

“We've given out thousands and thousands of samples today (at $1 each),” he said. “We've raised the most money of any of the competitors out here.”

City Manager Brian Bulthuis often chided Allegood about last year's “Fire on the Lake,” but as of early Saturday afternoon, all the tents were still standing and free of unwanted fires.

Julia Raymond, who was working a tent operated by the Atlanta Beat Women's Professional Soccer club, which plays in Kennesaw, expressed her thoughts on the day.

“I like it,” she said. “It's great for the community, and it's great to have a product out here and to be a part of the community.”

Although there were more vendors at last years' event, the layout this year was much more conducive to freely wandering the area and taking in the competing BBQers' wares. One dollar bought one “BBQ Buck,” and most tents offered samples for that price. A plate of ribs, or a burger or hot dog, cost more BBQ Bucks.

Transport to the festival from the City Hall and Library parking lots was provided by . Additionally, Day's was giving away a new white Chevrolet Camaro. To win the car, one had to purchase the right ($5 a roll, or $20 for five rolls) to use a Yahtzee game, and whoever rolled the word “Rotary” won the car.

If the sights and smells of the Smoke on the Lake weren't enough to tickle your senses, the sounds of the afternoon were sure to. Live music, from bands such as The Mars Hill Porch Pickers (accompanied by Roger “Hurricane” Wilson), kept the happy, hungry crowd entertained throughout the day. Some tents employed someone akin to a carnival barker to get people to sample their food.

“I was 80 pounds before I tried this stuff!” shouted one overweight barker.

BBQ wasn't the only attraction at the lake. Vendors, selling everything from stun guns to cosmetics, plied their craft. One tent was stocked to the roof with purses, hats, and handbags.

A few local restaurants came to compete against or complement the individual BBQers. They included , , and .

The weather was perfect, the BBQ was sublime, and the music was outstanding. Unfortunately, we will have to wait another year to experience the next edition of the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Fest at Cauble Park at Lake Acworth.