The Third Annual Marshall County Blazin’ BBQ & Bluegrass festival is this weekend.
Cori Humes, one of the event’s organizers, says it gives barbecuers the chance to compete on a national scale, “It’s a sanctioned event. All points count [for] all teams that are participating in it this weekend, towards their Kansas City Barbeque points for all of their competition. It has come a long way, but we made it in our third year and we currently have 28 teams competing. We know a few more have inquired, so maybe we’ll get a few more by this weekend but that’s where we’re sitting at this point and we’re really excited about it.”
She also says some local favorites will be among the competitors, “We’re all familiar with Jeff and Shelly Sharp at the Yellow River BBQ – they were actually our second year grand champion – and the Hookers from Tippecanoe, Smokin’ Hookers will be there on hand, and they’re right from Marshall County, so we’re really glad to have both of them back at our competition this year.”
In addition to the barbeque, there will also be a beer tasting tonight from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., with music from the Scally Waggers. The headliner will be Southern Straightaway, performing a free, all-ages show from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup kicks off at 11:00 a.m. with the Stampede String Band, followed by Chad Van Herk from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. There will also be an antique tractor show from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and square dancing from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The free festival is at Centennial Park in Plymouth.
