Andy Buttari, a Fuddruckers restaurant employee, cooks up hamburgers during last year’s National Hamburger Festival.
7/8/2010 - West Side Leader
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Visitors to Lock 3 Park July 17-18 will get to sample the all-American flavors of the hamburger.
The National Hamburger Festival returns for its fifth year, bringing with it more than 50 varieties of the popular sandwich from nearly 20 eateries from near and far.
Drew Cerza, the Buffalo, N.Y., promoter who organizes the festival, said the fifth year shows the event has become a success.
“It’s grown,” he said, adding that last year’s event brought 25,000 to downtown. “You see more people from different areas of Northeast Ohio getting involved in it. It’s become a true family-fun event.”
While the festival has grown some, many of the activities that were part of it when it started are still taking place.
“The crowds just love these different contests,” Cerza said. “The festival queen contest has really grown as well.”
In addition to the Miss Hamburger Festival Contest, the event will feature the annual Ohio Hamburger Eating Championships, taking place July 17 at 6:30 p.m., with local competitive eater Dave “Coondog” O’Karma expected to participate again.
“He’s a legend,” Cerza said of O’Karma. “He has helped make this festival what it is.”
Bobbing for Burgers, which gives three lucky contestants the chance to retrieve as many toy burgers from a pool of ketchup as they can, also will return at 5:15 p.m. July 17.
Participating restaurants also will vie for bragging rights in five categories at the National Burger Cook-Off. Local participating restaurants include Crave and The Barley House. Winners will be announced July 17 at 8 p.m.
Music will be featured, too, with several performers taking the stage at Lock 3. On July 17, guitarist Jon Mosey will perform from 2 to 4 p.m.; Evil Ways (a tribute to Carlos Santana) will perform from 4 to 8 p.m.; and Satisfaction (a tribute to the Rolling Stones) will perform from 8:30 to 11 p.m. On July 18, 45 RPM will appear from 2 to 5 p.m.
A new entertainer this year will be “Quizmaster” Dennis George, who will bring his trivia show to the stage both days. Cerza said George relies on audience participation.
Admission to the festival is $5, but free for children under 48 inches tall. Proceeds will support Akron Children’s Hospital. All food is purchased with food tickets, which are sold at the festival.
Cerza said even with an admission fee, the festival is still a great deal.
“It’s inexpensive and you’re getting out and about,” he said.
Cerza is in his ninth year as promoter of the National Chicken Wing Festival, which takes place in his hometown of Buffalo. He said Akron benefits from what he learns each year at the Buffalo event, which last year attracted 90,000 during the Labor Day weekend.
“I use a lot of the things that work in Buffalo in Akron,” he said. “The crazy contests and events with music — a lot of those things are done in Buffalo and have been successful. Buffalo has served as the guinea pig.”
He added it doesn’t hurt that both festivals celebrate popular foods.
“Chicken wings and burgers are two of America’s most popular foods, without a doubt,” Cerza said.
The National Hamburger Festival will take place July 17 from noon to 11 p.m. and July 18 from noon to 7 p.m. For additional information, including a complete schedule of events, go to the website www.hamburgerfestival.com. Lock 3 Park is located at 200 S. Main St.
