Photo provided Hoosier Egg Fest will compete to dazzle your taste buds at its annual event on Saturday, to benefit Turning Point Domestic Violdence Services.
Good food, good company and a good cause. All of this comes together in Columbus’ very own Hoosier Grill Fest, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Hoosier Egg Fest invites teams of “eggheads,” or what Hoosier Egg Fest hosts Thompson Furniture call fans of Big Green Egg grills, to showcase their grill skills, while patrons are invited to sample what they’ve cooked up. This year’s Hoosier Egg Fest will feature more than 20 grill teams, according to minority owner and vice president of Thompson Furniture Nick Partin.
“Each team has an Egg that we provide and they cook all sorts of different great stuff,” Partin said. “And these teams range from two people to like eight people, you know, many hands make light work, but these guys work their tails off to serve bite-sized pieces to the public.”
A panel of non-professional judges will come by to sample each team’s food, but patrons themselves can be the judge by leaving monetary tips for teams they like. The team with the most amount of tips will be awarded with the title of Hoosier Egg Fest Champion. This money not only helps them in that goal, but it all goes towards a donation to Turning Point Domestic Services as well, Partin said.
The Hoosier Egg Fest will also feature a silent auction, a beer trailer and a dunk booth for kids, as well as a DJ and refreshments. Patrons will have plenty of ways to donate to Turning Point throughout the event, such as through a text-to-donate service.
“Entry fee money goes to Turning Point, silent auction all goes to Turning Point, so there’s a lot of different avenues in which Turning Point will get some funds,” Partin said.
Thompson Furniture alternates each year on what beneficiary they donate to, giving to Turning Point during odd years and the Fireman’s Cheer Fund during even years. The event has raised $168,200 for both charities throughout the years, according to owner and president of Thompson Furniture Spencer Thompson.
The goal of this year’s event, Thompson said, is to push over the $200,000 total.
“I want this to be successful for the charities obviously, but it’s got to be successful for everyone involved, and if that’s the case, then the charities will benefit,” Thompson said.
Standard adult tickets cost $20 and tickets for children from five to 12 cost $10. VIP tickets, which allow for early entry, cost $40. Tickets can be purchased at Turning Point’s location or website or by visiting Thompson Furniture at 2440 Central Ave.
