There are two main areas where volunteers are still needed for the 2010 Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival, according to volunteer chair Gail Muir. Those areas are the evening shifts on both Friday and Saturday (all positions except for beer and wine sales) and all day both days with the Going Green effort.

The Going Green initiative is something were so proud of, said Betsy Burdett, one of the Going Green chairpersons. But if we dont get more help, well be at a real disadvantage this year.

She explained that the particular need is for people to be stationed at the nine recycling stations scattered about the festival grounds to educate and assist guests in properly disposing of their waste.

We have signs that say Aluminum goes here and Paper goes here, but unless there is someone there, experience has shown that we are far less successful in separating our trash, and so we wind up taking more than we should to the landfill, Burdett said.

Shift times on Friday are 2:30 to 7 p.m. and 6:30 to 11 p.m. On Saturday, there are three shifts: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1:30 to 6 p.m., and 5:30 to 11 p.m.

The festival is this coming weekend, on June 11 and 12. If youve been sitting on the fence, now is the time to jump in and become a part of this community tradition. Call the festival office at 828-859-7427, or visit the website at www.BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com to get an application. Or, you can send an email to volunteers@blueridgebbqfestival.com – be sure to give your name, phone number and complete mailing address.

Volunteers receive free festival admission both days, free t-shirt, and free bottled water.

The festival also includes live music, a Kids Fun Park with carnival rides and games and, of course, barbecue with all the trimmings. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, closing at 11 p.m. both nights. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Admission includes shuttle parking and all live entertainment. On Friday, Seniors receive a two-for-the-price-of-one discount all day, and kids can have unlimited rides for a small fee from 3 until 7 p.m. Visit www.BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com for more information and to get a coupon good for $1.00 off Fridays admission.

The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is conducted annually under the auspices of the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce. Some of the proceeds from the festival help support chamber operations and any additional funds go to the chamber foundation to be returned to the community through grants to a variety of programs and projects throughout the county.