Enjoy some mac-and-cheese and help a great cause next Saturday at the convention center

Cheese lovers unite! You have the chance to sample many types of mac-and-cheese while determining the Mac-and-Cheese Kings and Queens of Central Florida, all while raising money for Give Kids the World.

The inaugural O-Town MacDown will be held at the Orange County Convention Center on Aug. 23, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. O-Town MacDown is an afternoon of food and fun the whole family will enjoy.

The O-Town MacDown will also include cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, a performance by Tony Brent from the Outta Control Dinner Show, appearances by the SeaWorld “Groove Chefs” and unlimited mac-n-cheese. Kids can enjoy the Kid’s Zone including bounce houses, face painting and macaroni arts and crafts.

The competition is open to professional chefs, restaurant chefs or home cooks with the tastiest mac-and-cheese who want to show off their best cheesy concoction to earn bragging rights and great prizes. The winners of the professional and restaurant competitions at O-Town MacDown will have the opportunity to face off on stage in front of their colleagues at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, to be held two weeks later in Orlando.

Both winners will compete at the Show’s Food Trends Experience Culinary Demonstration Theater for the title of Best Mac ‘n Cheese in Orange County. They also will be featured on the show’s website leading up to the event and promoted heavily at the show. The winner of the home cook category will receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C. which includes a food tour from D.C. Metro Food Tours, hotel and airfare.

Tickets are available online now at $10 for adults and $5 for children. Ticket prices will be higher at the door. Visit OTownMacDown.org for tickets and registration information.