Fort Lauderdale, FL – October 9, 2018 – The team behind Walgreens Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Music Festival Presented by the UHealth Clinic at Walgreens today revealed exciting details surrounding the can’t-miss grilling competition, which will become a full-fledged, weekendlong celebration of food and football this year. Making its return to the Pompano Beach Amphitheater beginning Friday, November 9, the festival will include three nights of live concerts, an all-new family-friendly BBQ Pit Masters competition, and a variety of cornhole games and tournaments.
“The event has experienced tremendous success over the years, continuing to surpass our expectations,” said John Offerdahl, founder of the event and former Miami Dolphins All-Pro Linebacker. “This year, we have really turned up the heat, adding new entertainment leading up to the grand event and other fun surprises. This will no doubt be our biggest and best event yet.”
The festival officially kicks off on Friday, November 9 with a live performance from Grammy awardwinning artist Vince Gill as part of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Gridiron Grill-Off
Concert Series, Powered by the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB’s Underground Music in Partnership with AEG Presents. Also included in the weekend line-up are acclaimed rock bands Sister Hazel and Barenaked Ladies, who will perform on Saturday, November 10, while chart topping rock group Daughtry will wrap up the weekend with a performance on Sunday, Novembe 11.
Returning on Saturday, November 10 is the festival’s signature event, the Grand Grill-Off, which will once again pair celebrity chefs from South Florida’s finest restaurants with Miami Dolphin legends to tackle the grill and create tastes for all guests to enjoy. This year’s event will be complemented by several new additions including sponsor activations, beverage components, live entertainment, a refreshed silent auction and more.
The all-new BBQ Pit Masters competition will begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday before the Grand GrillOff, which starts at 1 p.m. Showcasing more than 40 pit masters competing to win the grand champion trophy and more than $10,000 in cash prizes, the interactive competition will offer attendees the chance to sample a variety of recipes fresh off the grill and vote for their favorites.
With the help of the naming rights sponsor, the event will feature the Toyota Cornhole Stadium & Festival Stage again this year. The Walgreens Gridiron Grill-Off will team up with the American Cornhole League (ACL) to introduce a variety of games and tournaments taking place throughout the festival weekend at the Toyota Cornhole Stadium & Festival Stage, including the “Celebrity Cornhole Challenge – Beat John Offerdahl’s Score” on Saturday, November 10, as well as the “$10,000 ACL Charity Cornhole Tournament” and “ACL Pro Celebrity Throwdown” on Sunday, November 11.
A full roster of teams for the Grand Grill-Off will be announced in the coming weeks. Participating restaurants this year include Beach House Pompano, Oceans 234, Naked Taco and Pelican Landing, among many others. In another new twist, 100 percent of this year’s proceeds will benefit the Broward College Foundation in the form of grants and merit-based scholarships.
Tickets are now on sale at the event’s all-new website, www.gridirongrilloff.com. Tickets to the Grand Grill-Off are $85 per person for general admission and $125 per person for VIP. Tickets to the BBQ Pit Masters competition are $10 for adults and free for kids ages 4 and under. Tickets to the concerts range from $30-$99.50.
Follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gridirongrilloff or Instagram at @gridirongrilloff and Twitter at @GridironGriller for real-time participant additions and announcements.