Press release
Get ready to fire up your appetite and support a great cause! The Hope Center is hosting Smoke For Hope, a one-of-a-kind smoked meat competition and community fundraiser on Saturday, September 12, from 12:00noon to 5:00pm, at Tracy B’s Farm Market & Brewery.
Smoke For Hope will bring together local amateur cooking teams, community members, families and food lovers for an afternoon filled with incredible barbecue, music, raffles and plenty of fun, all while raising funds to support the Hope Center and its programs serving individuals and families throughout Genesee County and surrounding areas.
Teams will compete for bragging rights and prizes in categories such as Best Chicken Wings, Best Pork Butt and Best Ribs. Attendees will also have the opportunity to select their favorite contestant for the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Guests will have the opportunity to sample a variety of smoked meats and decide which team deserves their vote!
This event is graciously sponsored by, and made possible by Tracy B’s Market & Farm Brewery, Save-A-Lot, Garner Farms and Batavia Legal Printing.
A Community Event with Something for Everyone
Admission is $25 per person, with children age 10 and under admitted free. Each adult admission includes a food ticket for pig roast (donated by Garner Farms), hot dog, sides and water, plus a tasting at each of the competing booths.
In addition to the barbecue competition, guests can enjoy:
· Live music featuring a DJ Jimmy B5 (noon to 5), and band starting at 6pm
· Basket raffles and door prizes
· 50/50 raffle
· Dessert vendors
· Bounce house
· Face painting
· Plenty of food, fun and family-friendly entertainment
The event will be held rain or shine.
Supporting Hope in Our Community
Proceeds from Smoke For Hope will benefit the Hope Center, a nonprofit community center dedicated to providing programs and opportunities that help individuals and families grow, connect and thrive.
The Hope Center’s programs include Fresh Start Tutoring, which provides free tutoring for students and adult literacy learners; Senior Moments, a respite program for caregivers caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia; Women’s health and wellness workshops through Made to Bloom; Men of Hope, our senior citizens outreach program offering handyman type services; Vessels, our newest program and club for tween girls grades 3 through 6; and other programs designed to bring hope, connection and practical support to the community.
“Smoke For Hope is about much more than barbecue,” said Gina Lathan, Director of the Hope Center. “It’s about bringing our community together, having a great time and helping make sure the Hope Center can continue providing programs that make a difference in people’s lives. We can’t think of a better combination than good food, good friends and a good cause.”
Come Hungry. Leave Inspired.
Whether you’re a barbecue enthusiast, a competitive cook, a family looking for a fun afternoon or simply someone who wants to support the Hope Center, Smoke For Hope promises to be an event worth attending.
Smoke For Hope Saturday, September 12, 2026
12:00noon – 5:00pm Tracy B’s Farm Market & Brewery, 8041 East Main Rd, LeRoy NY Admission: $25 | Children 10 & under: Free Rain or shine
For more information about Smoke For Hope or the Hope Center, visit the Hope Center’s social media pages or contact the Hope Center of LeRoy.
About the Hope Center
The Hope Center is a nonprofit community center serving LeRoy and the surrounding GLOW region. Through educational programs, senior support, community workshops and outreach initiatives, the Hope Center works to create opportunities for people of all ages to connect, grow and find hope.