Bringing the heat since 1996, the Smoked Meat and BBQ Festival is back again Friday and Saturday.
Public Square in Nelsonville will be sizzling this weekend, as it hosts the 19th annual Ohio Smoked Meat and BBQ Festival. Being a competition, competitors can’t just give out samples, however, there are a great number of vendors and other attractions sure to keep one busy.
“BBQ Teams” will compete for a grand prize of $10,000. The festival will occur Friday and Saturday to continue a tradition that started in 1996 by Hocking College and Inn, according to the festival’s website. The event is now led and organized by the Nelsonville Chamber of Commerce and is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the website states.
Competitors come from throughout the U.S. and sometimes even Canada, according to Bill L’Heureux, owner of L'Heureux properties in Athens and Nelsonville.
L’Heureux is coordinator for the beer garden that will be at the festival both days for those of age to enjoy.
“It’s cool to talk to other people and find out where they're from,” Sean Kiser, owner of the Kiser’s BBQ restaurants in Athens, said.
Friday is mainly dedicated for competitors to arrive and begin going through meat inspections and registration. Vendors will be at the public square Friday and will have food for visitors, even though the barbecue competition is not until Saturday, the website states.
Saturday is when the competitors fire up their grills and begin smoking up the best meat they can possibly make. Kiser said it “is the day where it get’s serious — like a real competition.”
“With the cash prize and the ability to move on to the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s even bigger competition, it’s no wonder people competing get so serious,” Kiser said.
The public is not allowed to visit the BBQ Team stations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., L’Heureux said. However, according to the BBQ Competition Etiquette For The Viewing Public form, samples may be given out after that time period at the discretion of the teams.
The Nelsonville Farmers Market will be open as another opportunity for food from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Vendors will be open, as well.
Along with the Elks Lodge, 53 Hocking St., having food and beer, there will be a DJ and live music at 8 p.m. on Friday and at 12 p.m. on Saturday, L’Heureux said.
The ABC Players are scheduled to perform Disney’s My Son, Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale, 52 Public Square, at Stuart’s Opera House.
As a spectator of the 2013 Smoked Meat and BBQ Festival, Kiser said it was neat to see how the teams prepare the food.
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