Who: Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau
What: Pork & Brew BBQ State Championships
When: March 27-28, 2009
Where: Santa Ana Star Center in the Rio Rancho City Center
Contact: www.rioranchonm.org/PorkandBrew

Rio Rancho’s sixth annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championships- named one of the best 100 events in the nation for 2009 by the American Bus Association - is March 27-28, 2009, at the Santa Ana Star Center in the Rio Rancho City Center.

Activities include live entertainment, fun jumps, pig races, kids’ corral, and, of course, food galore. Times are noon-9 p.m. March 27 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 28. For more info visit www.rioranchonm.org/PorkandBrew

“The Pork & Brew has quickly become one of New Mexico’s favorite annual events,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, “entertaining both family and friends year after year. The folks in Rio Rancho are to be commended for their efforts in creating such a popular attraction.”

Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October 2008 issue of Destinations magazine, means Rio Rancho’s Pork & Brew “offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world,” said ABA officials.

With the release of the American Bus Association’s 2009 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 27 years of the Top 100 Events. What began as a way for motor coach operators to incorporate new products into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals and the general public.

“The real news here is that Rio Rancho’s Pork & Brew has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when re-energizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy,” said Mark Trujillo, North America Tour Trade director for the Tourism Department, who nominated the event for consideration by ABA. “The honor gives Rio Rancho an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”

The Pork & Brew is sponsored by the Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau, and is a fully sanctioned Kansas City BBQ Society event - one of the top 10 events on the Society calendar.  With more than 30,000 in attendance last year, Pork & Brew has become one of the largest two-day events in New Mexico. Winners go on to participate in Kansas City, KS at the Nationals.