Slice of Americana Pizza Competition Set for 4th of July; the Winner Will Receive a Free Trip to Italy

Oxford, MS, June 13, 2014 --(PR.com)-- In the heart of the Americana Music Triangle lies Oxford, MS. Oxford also serves as the heart of the pizza industry as home base for PMQ Pizza Magazine and the United States Pizza Team. To celebrate Independence Day, PMQ will bring together pizzaiolos (pizza makers) from throughout the United States for the Slice of Americana pizza culinary competition. Handcrafted pizza, children’s activities and live music from the Americana Music Triangle region anchored by Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans bring a festive atmosphere to the Powerhouse.

To be held as part of the Lafayette-Oxford-University Fourth of July community celebrations in Oxford, the event is open to the public but is ticketed. Tickets can be purchased at pizzafestival.bpt.me or are available at the door.

Pizza fans of all ages are invited to attend this event and help choose a winning pizzeria. Tickets are $10 for those aged 13 and above and include free pizza, a ballot and beverages. Tickets are $5 for ages 5 to 12 and free for 4 and under. Children’s activities will be available as well as live music. A picnic area will be available outside on the grounds of the Powerhouse and air-conditioned space inside.

The winner of the Slice of Americana pizza culinary competition will win a place on the U.S. Pizza Team and a free trip to Italy to compete in the World Pizza Championships in 2015. An audience award winner will go home with bragging rights as the Best Pizza in the United States. Contestants are traveling from throughout the U.S. to compete in the event.

Up to twenty pizzaiolos will compete in the event starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending by 3:30 p.m. Events for the Fourth of July celebration continue in the Grove at The University of Mississippi at 4:00 p.m. with the L-O-U Community band and more acts to follow on the Grove stage. Fireworks begin over Oxford-University Stadium-Swayze Field at nightfall around 9:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Melanie Addington via email at Melanie@pmq.com.

The U.S. Pizza Team consists of expert pizza makers and dough-spinning acrobatic performers from pizza restaurants across the United States. The squad won the Team Acrobatics World Championship in Salsomaggiore, Italy, in 2011. PMQ Pizza Magazine, the leading national trade publication for the pizza restaurant industry, created the U.S. Pizza Team in 2000.

The US Pizza Team is sponsored by California Milk Advisory Board, Gordon Food Services, LaNova, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, Bag Solutions, Fonntannini Meats, Lillsun, Marsal and Sons, Pendelton Flour, Univex, PizzaInsurance and Presto Foods.