I Love BBQ and Music Festival returns on Labor Day weekend
Annual event benefits Lake Placid’s Shipman Youth Center
LAKE PLACID – On Labor Day weekend, residents and visitors alike would be wise to drive slowly past the North Elba Show Grounds in Lake Placid and with their windows open. Following the scent will be the best way to find the annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival, slated for Sept. 1-3.
The event, now in its 17th year, benefits children’s programs at the Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid. The three-day festival is organized by USA Luge as a means of giving back to the community that has been the Winter Olympic federation’s home for 45 years. It is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. “We’re expecting a fun weekend for this year’s festival,” said Dmitry Feld, USA Luge marketing manager, President of the Shipman Youth Center, and organizer of the festival. “The teams are anxious to return, but it’s our fans who come through the gates each day, that are the backbone of our success. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces over the holiday weekend.”
Starting on Sept. 1 when the gates open at 3 PM, festival goers will be treated to public tastings of pulled pork and ribs; Top Chef competition that open for public to observe and to taste their prepared food, fiery competitions among BBQ teams from North America battling for $8,500 in prize money; fun, inflatable kid’s attractions; top musical entertainment from around the region; Krusher BMX bike exhibitions; professional wrestling presented by Performance Arts Connection and more.
Over the past 16 years, the I Love BBQ and Music Festival has raised nearly $350,000 for the Shipman Youth Center. It is the center’s most significant fundraiser each year.
In addition to the festivities, a limited number of raffle tickets, 300 in total, will be sold. Winner will go home with first prize of $10,000. A total of 15 cash prizes are part of this raffle. Tickets may be purchased online at: https://shipmanyouthcenter.wufoo.com/forms/z1tozjoj1lsuwsy/
The center was inspired by Thomas Shipman, a designated Lake Placid youth police officer, who died in 1999 and built the center with community donations of money, materials and labor. 
For the last 24 years, the Shipman Youth Center has provided services to over 5,000 children. Programs include homework time and assistance, community services, recreational services, weekly family-style dinners, travel, and guest speakers. The center provides a supervised, safe and exciting environment where local children can grow and develop as individuals.  Shipman Youth Center is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.  For a complete daily schedule of the festival, please log on to: www.ilbbqf.com.