Viejas Hosts California’s Largest BBQ Cooking Championship

Teams From Around the Country Compete; Winner Advances to National Competition

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Viejas Outlet Center is proud to host the 4^th annual “Smokin’ in the Park” BBQ Championship, with an expanded venue and added entertainment this year. The BBQ championship – the largest in California – features over 50 teams from around the country competing for more than $17,000 in prize money. The “Smokin’ in the Park” BBQ competition is sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS), and the Grand Champion will have a chance to advance to the 2009 Jack Daniels National BBQ Championship.

This year the event has expanded to include a micro brew and wine tasting, kids play area benefiting the Joan MacQueen D.C. Kids Group, street vendors and a live entertainment stage. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 18 along Willows Road and is free and open to the public.

Teams competing in the BBQ Championship will be judged in four meat categories; chicken, pork shoulder, beef brisket and pork spareribs. Cooking begins on Friday night at 10 p.m. and judging begins at noon on Saturday with the winners announced at 4 p.m. Sample plates will be sold at the Viejas Charity booth for $6, with all proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. The event will also feature appearances from Sam the Cooking Guy and Randy Jones, San Diego’s own “major league” BBQ expert.

In addition to the competition, the event features live entertainment from noon – 7 p.m., with a live concert from national country music artist Crystal Shawanda at 5:30 p.m. and the culmination of the Highway 80 Passport Road Trip at 3 p.m. As always, event attendees will get to enjoy savings up to 70% at over 60 brand name stores at the Viejas Outlet Center.

For more information on the event, visit www.shopviejas.com or call 619-659-2070.

About Viejas Outlet Center

The Viejas Outlet Center features more than 60 name brand stores, restaurants, a concert park and a show court with free nightly shows. Located at Interstate 8 and Willows Road, 35 miles east of San Diego, Viejas Outlet Center is directly across the street from the Viejas Casino, one of California’s most successful tribal casinos, boasting 2,000 slots, more than 80 table games, the DreamCatcher Lounge, V Lounge and five restaurants.

For more information visit www.shopviejas.com and www.viejas.com.