Bring your buns to the 12th National Hamburger Festival at Lock 3 in downtown Akron, August 12th and 13th, where you can sample more than 50 kinds of burgers, and even compete in a "Ninja Challenge" like they have on TV.

Plans are underway for the festival, which celebrates Akron's history as the originator of America's favorite beefy treat. Legend has it that Akronites, Frank and Charles Menches, invented the sandwich when they substituted beef for pork at the Erie County Fair, in Hamburg, New York, back in 1885. 

Today, Drew Cerza, of Buffalo, New York, is the founder of the festival, which is presented by the City of Akron, and sponsored by Barefoot Wine & Bubblly. Proceeds will go to support Akron Children's Hospital.

New this year, Cerza says, will be an "Akron Ninja Challenge" complete with an obstacle course like they have on the popular TV show, "American Ninja Warrior". They'll even have a couple of contestants from the show, James Wilson, and Patrick Hall, on hand. Wilson is currently on the show, and is based out of Cincinnati, OH. Hall, who is a two-time contestant, will lead the course.

The festival will also feature live music, from The Buck Naked Band, Justin Fabus, and Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts.

And, to promote the event, Drew Cerza and Akron RubberDucks owner, Ken Babby, will "bob for burgers" in a kiddie pool filled with ketchup at a Ducks game, sometime next week.  They did it a couple of years ago, and it became such a YouTube fan favorite; they're going to do it again this year--date and time, TBA.

Admission is $5, and children under 8, get in free. For tickets and information, go to www.hamburgerfestival.com or follow along at @HamburgerFest, and www.facebook.com/NationalHamburgerFestival.