Stick a fork in it: Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival in Tryon is done

From the Hendersonville Times-News:

After 16 years, the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival in Tryon is hanging up its spatula and tongs.

There will not be a festival this year or in the future, said Andy Millard, president of the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce.

“In short,” Millard said. “We are getting out of the festival business so that we can concentrate more fully on the Chamber’s core mission of supporting and promoting member businesses.”

Millard cited three main reasons why the Chamber discontinued the annual June festival that brought in at least 20,000 visitors last year.

High cost to run the event, financial and legal risk and the amount of time put into the event were all reasons for the festivals permanent cancelation.