Roastin with Rosie festival cancelled

JENNINGS — Plans for this year’s Roastin With Rosie Barbecue Festival have been canceled due to lack of funding and community involvement, according to the festival committee.

“We are taking a sabbatical this year and hope we can regroup and return the second weekend in September 2013,” committee member Joy Huval said.

The festival initially began in 2008 at the Grand Marais Courtyard as a fundraiser for the proposed Southern Petroleum Art and Recreation Center. Plans for the center were scratched earlier this year due to funding issues.

The festival was moved to the Jefferson Davis Parish Fairgrounds last year to allow more room for barbecue teams and those attending the event.

Nearly 4,000 people attended last year’s event, according to festival estimates.

Despite abandoning plans for SPARC, the committee tried to salvage the festival. But when past sponsors were contacted, it was realized that most of them had been told the festival had been canceled and had pledged their donations elsewhere.

After much consideration, the festival committee decided it would be best to cancel this year’s event and spend the time planning for the festival to return next year, Huval said.

If the festival is to be revitalized, more donations and volunteers will be needed, she said.

Those wishing to help support next year’s event are being asked to consider donating to the festival when planning next year’s budget.

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