LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - eTradeWire -- Like a scene from the Wild West, the parking lot that surrounds Coolray Field will soon be filled with cowboys, townspeople, traveling musicians, artisans selling their wares, beer merchants, axe throwers, gem miners, a mechanical bull, and more. At the heart of the 9^th Annual Sip & Swine BBQ Festival, a shootout between challenging meat-slingers will determine who will achieve the coveted honor of first place. Set for Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2, 100% of the proceeds from the two-day Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned event will benefit Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children's Shelter – a local charity devoted to the well-being of homeless children, their young mothers, and teens aging out of the foster care system. Hendrick Automotive Group is the returning Grand Champion Sponsor for the 2024 Sip & Swine Festival.

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"We launched this event in 2016 and have witnessed its phenomenal growth each subsequent year," said Jim Lloyd, former 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. "This year will feature the talents of 110 competition teams representing a mix of both Backyard and Pro challengers from all over the country. Our popular KidQ competition returns for the 5^th year – as aspiring chefs aged 6-15 show off their culinary skills. We also have 120 food and craft vendors lined up – with a waitlist of 200 more vying for a spot at the event. And we are proud to welcome four great bands to our stage to entertain guests on Saturday afternoon. In step with the event's growth, so follows the increase in attendees and funds raised on behalf of Home of Hope."

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Through its last eight events combined, the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival has raised $850k for the residential care facility that has endeavored to end the cycle of homelessness two generations at a time. Proceeds from competition fees, vendors fees, raffle ticket sales, and the purchase of People's Choice Taster Kits support Home of Hope's mission to strengthen children, youth, and families in crisis by providing a broad array of counseling and supportive services in a safe and nurturing environment. People's Choice Taster Kits can be purchased for just $12 each in the People's Choice Tent on March 2. Between 11:30am-1:30pm, People's Choice participants will get to sample from nine randomly selected competitors and share their pick for their personal favorite.

Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville. For additional information, please visit www.sipandswine.com. To learn more about Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children's Shelter, visit www.homeofhopegcs.org.