Month: December 2020

Famed North Carolina BBQ Pitmasters to Highlight the 3-day Festival in the Village of Pinehurst

PINEHURST, NC (December 9, 2020) – Tarheel Festivals, LLC and Pinehurst Resort have announced plans for an exciting Barbecue Festival that will be held in the Village of Pinehurst on September 3-5, 2021.  The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort and the Village of Pinehurst, will be a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition,” offering a unique collection of special events, vendor samplings and displays, food and beverage options and entertainment for the entire family to enjoy.  The event will become the second owned and operated event by Tarheel Festivals, including the annual Festival D’Avion hosted at the Moore County Airport, which will be staged April 9-10, 2021.

“Barbecue is part of North Carolina’s DNA,” explained the Barbecue Festival’s co-founder, Peter Stilwell.  “We are excited to introduce this new festival event in the Pinehurst community and showcase the best of North Carolina Barbecue and the legendary Pitmasters who prepare it.”

The schedule of events continues to evolve but will include a celebration concert on Friday, September 3^rd; “Q” School Barbecue Grilling classes at the Pinehurst Brewing Company; a Wings & Whiskey/Cigar-B-Q; Village of Pinehurst Pub Crawl; a “Meet the Masters” VIP party on Saturday, September 4^th; and the Grand Finale will feature the Ed Mitchell Pitmaster Invitational in the heart of the Village of Pinehurst, featuring renowned Pitmasters from across North Carolina, on Sunday September 5th.

Mitchell, from Wilson, NC, and known as “The Pitmaster” in world-wide barbeque circles and a master at cooking whole-hog barbecue, has owned and operated several restaurants throughout North Carolina.  He was the founding Pitmaster for the annual Big Apple Block Party in New York City and has been featured in Food & Wine, Gourmet, and Bon Appetite magazines, and on the Food Network, beating world-renown Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a “Battle of the Barbecues.”  He and his son Ryan will be opening a new restaurant in Raleigh, NC in 2021.

Mitchell will select the elite group of Pitmasters that will prepare barbecue samples and meals for the Festival in categories including whole hog, brisket, ribs, poultry and specialty meats.  Ticket holders will have the opportunity to sample from all participating Pitmasters during the Invitational.

“I have been cooking North Carolina barbecue my entire life,” said Mitchell.  “We are excited to be part of this new Festival in Pinehurst, and I look forward to joining my fellow Pitmasters next September.  The Village of Pinehurst and Pinehurst Resort are perfect locations for this unique event.”

In addition to the best Eastern and Western North Carolina-style Barbecue, the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will highlight several of the state’s finest craft breweries during the various scheduled weekend events, including Pinehurst’s own Pinehurst Brewing Company.  Vendors during the festival will include barbecue grill companies and suppliers along with BBQ sauces, spices and rubs.  Music and entertainment will be provided throughout the Festival.

A variety of ticket and sponsor packages for the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will be available starting in early 2021.  Tickets will be available for individual events, and there will be VIP hospitality ticket options as well.  Sponsorships categories will include individual event sponsorships, preferred products and vendor tents. The event website www.pinehurstbarbecuefestival.com will launch in February, 2021. 

Pinehurst Resort will be promoting stay and play packages for the Festival allowing their guests to enjoy the barbecue themed events along with the opportunity to play golf and to enjoy a true southern hospitality weekend.

“We are looking forward to hosting events again that the public can enjoy in 2021,” said Dave Droschak, co-founder of Tarheel Festivals, LLC.  “We’re confident the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will be a huge success over Labor Day Weekend as we celebrate taste and tradition at Pinehurst.”

The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.

About Tarheel Festivals:
Tarheel Festivals, LLC is a full-service Event Management and Production Company headquartered in Pinehurst, North Carolina.  With over thirty-five years of producing signature events, their team of professionals build event experiences from inspiration to integration, specializing in delivering seamless events with unparalleled attention to detail resulting in magic moments and fond memories.

They currently have two unique signature events in the Pinehurst area that draw attendees from throughout North Carolina and the region and will be launching new events in 2021. In addition, Tarheel Festival’s team supports several other events that are held in the area. They recently partnered with the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in the development and operations for community events.

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Hotel to Feature 103 Guest Rooms, Conference Center and Full-Service Restaurant/Bar

ABERDEEN, NC (December 1, 2020) – The newest hotel in the Sandhills area of North Carolina will officially open on December 14, 2020. The Hilton Garden Inn will feature 103 rooms and employ about 60 employees. The hotel is owned by McPeake Hotels, Inc. which also operates the Hampton Inn and Towne Place Suites, all located in Aberdeen. The company is owned by Bonnie McPeake, a long-time hotel industry executive. She is also a board member on the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Reported cost of the hotel is $15 million.

The hotel will offer a spacious lobby, a full-service restaurant and bar with seating for up to 60 people, outdoor firepits, pool, fitness center and guest laundry. The Shop is a small store which will sell a variety of products from grab and go food items to guest necessities. Guest rooms will offer a microwave, refrigerator and coffee. The hotel also houses a 1,584 square foot conference room which can be separated into two rooms. Room rates will start at $139.00.

“Opening this hotel during a pandemic has been a challenge, but it has all been well worth the time and hard work to get it done,” said Bonnie McPeake, chairperson, McPeake Hotels, Inc. “Fortunately, despite these times, we see plenty of demand from the business and leisure traveler and having the Hilton brand makes it very recognizable for the consumer. We now have a great trio of hotels with this one, the Hampton Inn and Towne Place Suites in one location.”

The executive team of the hotel consists of David Byers, general manager, who has been on board since construction of the Hilton Garden Inn started two years ago. Byers has previous hotel experience in the area with the Comfort Inn and Suites. Sonya Sasser will serve as assistant manager and has more than 20 years of experience in the hotel industry. Jor’l Campbell has been named food and beverage director. He possesses more than 25 years in the food and beverage industry. Chef Campbell most recently served at CharBar7 in Southern Pines and as the general manager at The Mill at Puppy Creek in Raeford, NC.

About Hilton Garden Inn
The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is ‘Simply on Another Level.’ The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand’s goal to make each guest’s stay better and brighter. Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 870 hotels in 49 countries and territories around the world ensure today’s busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. For more information about Hilton Garden Inn, visit www.hgi.com or newsroom.hilton.com/hgi, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.

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