Security measures in place for weekend barbecue festivities
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s a big weekend in Memphis with two big barbecue festivals underway. Measures are already in place to make sure this weekend of fun events is a safe one.
Crowds are expected at downtown’s Tom Lee Park and Liberty Park near the Liberty Bowl Stadium. Organizers are making sure things stay safe from the pits to the parking lot.
“We are very safety conscious. We have Shelby County Sheriff, we have MPD. We work with all local law enforcement agencies,” said Mack Weaver, President and CEO of Memphis in May. “The teams that are here, the love being on this hard surface. We have had a little rain ’cause it’s May, but the teams have acclimated well.”
Weaver says the Liberty Bowl has parking lots with security available around the site. At Tom Lee Park downtown, SmokeSlam says they have safety in mind too.
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“We take security very, very seriously here. There are protocols where people will go through metal detectors as they come in and bag checks,” said Mike Smith, Producer of Mempho Presents.
The new barbecue festival on the river also has teens competing for their own barbecue prizes.
“At the age of 14, I came out with my own line of barbecue seasoning. For me that adds a little edge. It just means more to me since I have put those rubs out myself,” said Rylee Wright, a teen barbecue competitor.
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A new way of grilling is presented as well.
“Right now we have some Tomahawk steaks. We are gonna be hanging these guys to cook for 2 or 3 hours. Really depends,” said Derek Wolf with Over the Fire Cooking.
They also say parked cars will be safe downtown too.
“We’ve rented some downtown parking lots. You can buy parking spaces through our ticketing systems to different parking garages downtown, and there is security in those parking spaces and they are right by the entrance of the venues,” Smith said. “We also have brought in one of the largest third-party security companies in the world. They do events like the Super Bowl live and things like that. Just come on down and visit us on the river. A lot of good barbecues, a lot of good food, a lot of music, having a lot of fun.”
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