Who makes the best hamburgers in Northeast Ohio?

AKRON, Ohio (July 6, 2007) – Akron invites the nation to come back for seconds at the Second Annual National Hamburger Festival.  After drawing more than 20,000 people last year, the fun, food and friendly competition will resume at Lock 3 Park on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22, 2007, complete with live music and quirky burger-themed games.  Festival proceeds will once again benefit the Akron Children’s Hospital.  Last year’s event raised $5,000 for the hospital.

Festival hours are Saturday, July 21 from noon to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 22 from noon to 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the gate for $5.00 per person.  Admission is free for children under 48-inches tall.  Food and beverages will be sold separately.

Fueled by controversy among four different cities over who invented the hamburger, a 45-minute mock trial, coined the “Hamburger Hearings,” resulted in a hung jury last year, and a subsequent online vote named Seymour, Wisconsin, as the hamburger’s home.

But will another trial be held?  Rumors are circulating that an appeal may be filed at this year’s festival.

Still, the hunger for char-grilled glory pervades far beyond the inventors’ rivalry.  Restaurants will vie for bragging rights in five different categories of the National Burger Cook-Off as 18 eateries will serve over 50 different varieties of burgers.  Check out www.hamburgerfestival.com for a complete listing of the participating restaurants.

The competitive spirit will continue with the Miss Hamburger Pageant, the Baby Burger Contest and the Ohio Burger Cook-Off for backyard grillers.

A one-of-a-kind National Hamburger Festival Jughead® comic book (part of the Archie Comic Book Series) will be available with a donation to the Akron Children’s Hospital.  Archie Comic Book artist, Craig Boldman, will be on hand to autograph these collector items.

The festival will feature live music all weekend long.  On Saturday afternoon “Blood, Sweat and Beers” will entertain the festival crowd.  Lock 3 Park will turn into a big party atmosphere on Saturday night with “Gypsies in the Palace” performing a tribute to Jimmy Buffet.  On Sunday, “Cats on Holiday” will bring their rock music to Lock 3 Park from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Things will really get cooking as three goggle-adorned enthusiasts go “Bobbing for Burgers,” a hit from last year in which burger fans seek foam hamburger patties in a kiddy pool filled with ketchup.  The Big Boy Burger Eating Championship will also be held again.  Last year’s winner, Akron competitive eating legend David “Coondog” O’Karma, will return for a second year to defend his title and will challenge all eaters to a hamburger eat-off!

“We are thrilled to have the National Hamburger Festival return to Akron for its second year,” said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.  “The outcome of last year’s ‘Hamburger Hearings’ notwithstanding, we are the City of Invention, and that includes the invention of the hamburger.  We invite people to come to Akron for this delicious event and to see all that Akron has to offer!” 

In addition to the more than 50 different hamburger varieties from 18 eateries, there will be other Akron-favorite foods, with the restaurants set up on Main Street adjacent to Lock 3 Park.  Kids will have plenty to do, as well, with inflatable rides and even a Kid Zone that will include arts and crafts.

“Akron is the perfect place for this great national festival,” said Drew Cerza, founder of the event and president/CEO of the RMI Promotion Group of New York.  He cited Akron’s Americanism and housing of the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, branding the city the “Hamburger Capital of the World.”

National Hamburger Festival Main Stage Schedule:

Saturday, July 21, 2007, noon – 9 p.m.                                                                                         

Live Music

2 – 6 p.m.                    “Blood, Sweat and Beers”                                                     

6:30 – 10:30 p.m.        “Gypsies in the Palace” (A Jimmy Buffet Tribute)

Contests

3 p.m.                         Bobbing for Burgers                           

4 p.m.                          Restaurant Hamburger Cook-Off                  

6 p.m.                          Ohio Hamburger Eating Championships                                                      

Sunday, July 22, 2007, noon – 7 p.m.

Live Music

2:30 – 6 p.m.               “Cats on Holiday”

Contests

1 p.m.                          Baby Burger Contest

2 p.m.                          Miss Hamburger Festival Contest

3 p.m.                          Best Creative Hamburger Cook-Off

4 p.m.                          Best Traditional Hamburger Cook-Off

Additional information is available at www.hamburgerfestival.com.

City of Akron press release