Georgia's 8th Annual Sip & Swine BBQ Festival on Track to Smoke Previous Years

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Feb. 14, 2023 - PRLog -- A tasty blend of amateur and professional BBQ competitors from 12 states and two continents are perfecting their recipes and honing their techniques in preparation for the 8^th Annual Sip & Swine BBQ Festival. Originally crafted in 2016 as a fundraiser for Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children's Shelter, the two-day Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned event has grown by leaps and bounds in all the years since – incorporating live performances by local bands, a slew of food and craft vendors, and family-friendly activities. Admission and parking are FREE, and 100% of the proceeds benefit Home of Hope – a local charity devoted to the well-being of homeless children, their young mothers and teens aging out of the foster care system. This year's festival will take place March 3-4 at Coolray Field, and organizers are already predicting that it will be their largest event to date.

"The Sip & Swine BBQ Festival has raised $742k on behalf of Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children's Shelter," said Jim Lloyd, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Home of Hope, organizer of the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival, and CEO of Lawrenceville-based InsuranceHub Leavitt Agency. "The need is very real here in Gwinnett. 2,000 kids in the Gwinnett County Public School System identify as homeless, and as access to affordable housing continues to decline, those numbers are expected to grow. Families everywhere are feeling the sting of inflation, so what better way to do something good for your community than to gather together for a free, family-focused event that benefits a wonderful local charity. For those attendees who wish to impact Home of Hope directly, we encourage them to purchase a People's Choice Taster Kit for just $12 each. They'll get to sample from 9 randomly selected competitors and share their personal pick for favorite – it's good food for a good cause."

The People's Choice Tasting will take place Saturday, March 4 from 11:30AM-1:30PM. Marking its fourth year, Sip & Swine welcomes back its Kids Q Competition for aspiring chefs aged 6 to 15. For a $25 entry fee, pre-registered pint-sized pit masters will have an opportunity to compete at the festival, as well.

For additional information, visit www.sipandswine.com. To learn more about Home of Hope or make a direct donation online, please visit www.homeofhopegcs.org.