The Tri Cities Business Association is hosting the 2nd annual Copper Basin Smoke on the River Barbecue contest on September 23-24, 2011 on Bridge Street in McCaysville, Georgia.

Sign up to test your BBQ skills. The contest is open to backyard grillers only – no professionals. Cooks begin smoking at 4 PM on Friday, September 23, 2011. A bluegrass band will play Friday night beginning at 7 PM. Judges will begin their job on Saturday at 3 PM. Awards will be presented at 5 PM followed by music and dancing on the bridge.

Prizes will be awarded in 5 different food categories – Beef Brisket, Chicken, Ribs, Pork Butt, and desserts.

 For more information on this event, call 423-496-9000.

Celebrate Smokey the Bear’s 67th birthday in the Cherokee National Forest at the Ocoee Whitewater Center in Copperhill, Tennessee on August 6, 2011 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The US Forest Service is throwing a birthday party with lots of cake and ice cream, games, prizes, goody bags, and fire prevention programs. The guest of honor, Smokey the Bear, will be there to pose for pictures so don’t forget your camera.

The event is free but there is a $3 parking fee. For more information, call 423-496-0104.

The Ocoee Whitewater Center is located at:
4400 Highway 64
Copperhill, Tennessee

Visit the Copperhill Church of God in Copperhill, Tennessee on July 16, 2011 at 7 PM to enjoy a benefit singing featuring the Baliles Family of Copperhill. The Copperhill Church of God is formerly the Belltown Church of God.

The Copperhill Church of God is located at:
590 Belltown Rd.
Copperhill, TN

The events in and around Copperhill, Tennessee keep the celebration going the whole weekend of the 4th of July, 2011. Friday evening, July 1, 2011 starts the weekend out with a fireworks display from atop Tater Hill in McCaysville, Georgia beginning around 9:30 PM. You can see the fireworks from most areas of town. Stores and restaurants will be open late so come to town early, grab a bite to eat, and settle in to watch the fireworks show!

Saturday, July 2, 2011 in Ducktown, Tennessee will be a busy day with a full day of events celebrating the Ducktown Miners Homecoming. The day starts out with the 10th annual Hoist House pancake breakfast. It continues with a patriotic walking parade, Open House at Glenn Springs, Easter Star Soup Bean Dinner at the Ducktown Masonic Lodge, a rubber duck race, a classic car cruise-in, fun for kids all day, music and finally fireworks!

Monday, July 4, 2011 is an Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration in Etowah, Tennessee. There will be a pancake breakfast, a 5K road race, food and craft vendors, rides and games for the kids, music, and a gigantic display of fireworks.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Do you think you barbecue the best ribs around? If you do, sign up for the Copper Basin Rib Fest and compete for a great cash prize. This cook off will be on April 30, 2011 on Bridge Street in McCaysville, Georgia. Tasting begins at 5 PM and judging will begin at 5:30 PM. The ribs will be judged on tenderness, taste, and appearance. There are 4 different categories to compete in and they are: Backyard (non professionals), Civil Service (Firemen, Police, etc.), Restaurants (Pros) and Churches. If you are interested in competing in the cook off, call Adam Davenport at 706-492-6014 or Dale Jackson at 706-492-5000.

If your interests are more on the eating side, come on out to get a taste. The cost of all the ribs you can eat are $10 for adults, $6 for children 8 and under.

Also part of this day of fun is a Rubber Duck Race starting at 1 PM at McCaysville Park and ending at the steel bridge. Enter the race by getting a duck for $5 at one of the local area merchants or participating members of the Tri Cities Business Association. Prizes will be given for the first 10 ducks to finish the race by making it to the steel bridge.

The Tri Cities Business Association is sponsoring the Rib Fest and the Rubber Duck Race and all proceeds will go to benefit their future events.

Make a day of it and come out early to browse around the 1st Biannual City Wide Yard Sale covering both Copperhill, Tennessee and McCaysville, Georgia. The yard sale will start at 8:30 AM and end at 4 PM. You never know what treasures you might find! For more information and to set up a space, contact Ann Conyers at 423-548-6560.

Put on your dancin’ shoes and prepare for a great Saturday night out on the town at Ann’s Pickin’ Parlor in nearby McCaysville, Georgia on March 12, 2011. The band, Ratz in the Attic will be on stage from 8 PM to 11 PM.

Ratz in the Attic perform throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina and have a good mix of Southern Rock, Classic Rock, Country, Blues, and Jazz in their song list. They cover songs from bands like the Beatles, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Wilson Pickett, and the Commodores just to name a few. When they are in the house, you better be ready to rock!

Ann’s Pickin’ Parlor is located at:
14 Kingstown Street
McCaysville, Georgia
706-492-5030