Restaurants compete to win votes for "Orlando's Best Burger" title and raise money for local pet causes.

ORLANDO, FL, USA, September 29, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Barks and Burgers, a first of its kind cooking competition, is coming to Orlando Festival Park on October 11, 2014. The centerpiece of of the event is the Orlando Burger Battle, a qualifying event for the World Food Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both local and national restaurants, along side backyard grillers, will literally be putting their talents to the fire to win the crowd’s vote for "Orlando's Best Burger". All proceeds from this event will support local pet rescues and animal spay/neuter programs.

Barks and Burgers has put together a lineup of several of Central Florida’s finest musical acts such as Carly Jo Jackson, as seen on this season of America’s Got Talent along side local favorites Jeff Howell, the Holocomb Brothers and more. The entertainment doesn’t stop between acts, as local DJ extraordinaire, Jimmy Joslin, will keep the event pumping with mixes of today’s popular music.

Barks and Burgers benefits The Urban Pet Project, a 501(c)(3) charity that focuses on fundraising for local pet rescues and shelters. Proceeds from Barks and Burgers will also fund The Urban Pet Project’s 2015 spay and neuter initiative. Central Florida pet owners will be able to take advantage of a grant from The Urban Pet Project that will provide free spay and neutering procedures for their pets.

"For our first event we wanted to do something that would bring together two worlds of passionate people: pet owners and food lovers," says Kevin Casey, President of The Urban Pet Project. The idea was sparked in the midst of attending numerous local food events and pet events throughout the area. There hasn’t been an event to bring both of these things together. Casey adds, "I love my dog and I really love hamburgers. Why not an event that has both?"

Event attendees will also enjoy shopping along the vendor marketplace for an array of local products and services for pets and people. There will be a kids area with face painting and attractions for the little set. Plus, for those 21 years and older, a beer and wine garden will be available.

At Barks and Burgers, competitors will be sharing their most unique and tasty burgers for event attendees to sample. Attendees will get one vote to choose who is the crowd favorite. The award for being crowd favorite includes a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships in Las Vegas to compete in the World Burger Battle, a cash prize, the awesome Orlando Burger Battle trophy and bragging rights of Orlando’s Best Burger.

In addition, competitors may enter their most outrageous and creative burgers to be judged by a panel. The panel will award prizes for Best Beef, Best Turkey, Best Veggie and Best Open categories. "Lots of restaurants say they have Orlando’s best burger," says Casey. “We decided to let Orlando residents decide who has the best burger."

Since they started promoting the competition to local restaurants, inquiries from around the country poured in from backyard grillers and restaurants that wanted to qualify for the World Food Championships. Casey added, “We have some great local restaurants with the best hamburgers in Central Florida competing. But it will be interesting if the title of "Orlando’s Best Burger" goes to a restaurant from South Carolina or Jacksonville.”

Barks and Burgers takes place Saturday, October 11th at Festival Park Orlando. Tickets are just $15 and children 10 years and under are free with a paying adult. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.barksandburgers.com

About The Urban Pet Project: The Urban Pet Project is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership. Each year The Urban Pet Project plans and hosts events to raise awareness of abandoned companion animals. Funds raised by The Urban Pet Project provide support to pet animal rescues and low-cost spay/neuter initiatives throughout Central Florida.


Press release courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/1nAKf1E

Kevin Casey
The Urban Pet Project
407-309-7387
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