Taking a Bite Outta Akron at the National Hamburger Festival

It is wholly tempting for me to travel down the "Schweddy Balls" Saturday Night Live skit path when merely thinking about this mouth-watering festival. I could fill a page with puns and double entendres.

I'll leave that up to you. But if you are indeed a serious beef lover like I am, then you better get your buns (natch!) over to Lock 3 Park in Downtown Akron for the National Hamburger Festival, Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. Think live music, burger-themed games and, well, stuffing your face for a good cause -- Akron Children's Hospital. It's a win-win situation.

"The City of Akron is proud to be the principal sponsor of the National Hamburger Festival." said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. "It benefits our residents, it brings excitement to Greater Akron, and it unites the local community of providers of food and beverage services into a celebration of what makes our city great." Well said.

There are 50 different hamburger varieties from 16 eateries at this year's festival; the participating restaurants will be duking-it-out for honors in five different categories. New restaurants throwing their spatula into the ring this year include Fuddruckers, Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Midway Oh Boy! and the Red Wing Restaurant.

Speaking from personal experience, here's a word of caution: pace yourself.

In a pickle? That’s perfectly fine. Vlasic is hosting a “crunch off” competition throughout the festival -- perfect to keep those kids you might have with you entertained. Each round will feature two people, with each person getting a pickle and a microphone. The loudest pickle crunch wins a prize. (Oh, and if you participate, you get to keep the pickle). But there's a whole "Kids Zone" full of arts and crafts, face painting, games, prizes to keep them happy after you get 'em something tasty to nosh.

The National Hamburger Festival has scored a lot of great run over the years. The Food Network and NBC's Willard Scott gave some lovin’ for the festival... but controversy still swirls. Who invented the hamburger!?! Local lore points to Akronites Charles and Frank Menches as the creators of the burger (as well as the "cornucopia" ice cream cone and caramel corn) But who cares about debating when the food is this good?

Certainly not me.

The festival is in Akron, and it’s time to get your eat-on Saturday, July 18 from noon - 10:30PM and Sunday, July 19 from noon - 7PM. President Lincoln will get you in, unless you're a kid under 48-inches tall, and then you're FREE.

Hook yourself up with your favorite burger, dressed, stacked and packed the way you like it. And if you bump into me at the fest and want to "buy me a round," make my burger "well," double-stacked, with pepper jack cheese and some spicy mustard!

Need more deets? Surf over to http://www.HamburgerFestival.com. The site has great photos, including ones from last year's "Miss Hamburger Pageant".

I guess there's a beauty queen for everything.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kathy Vogel kvogel99ATmsn.com

Photo by Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
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