The inaugural Blues & Barbecue Festival will be a weekend of barbecue competitions, music contests, vendors, and more.
Features of this family-friendly event include
Kids 12 and under are admitted free, and it will take place from 13-14 September at the Midway Travel Plaza.
The festival is the brainchild of John Bland, who attended a barbecue festival in Kansas City and a roots and blues festival in Columbia, Missouri.
‘I knew I wanted to bring back the culture of barbecue, and the Roots and Blues Festival was the best event that brought the community together and created some of the most unforgettable memories of my life,’ Bland said.
‘People who grew up with the festival have been waiting for it to come back, and I’m really excited to be able to provide that opportunity.
[Barbecue Contest]
Festival-goers can fill their mouths with meats and sauces from Missouri barbecue pitmasters. The grand prize is a whopping $8500.
Officials from the Kansas City Barbecue Association and the Fort Worth Association will oversee the competition on Friday, and the Oklahoma Rib Cookoff Association on Saturday. More than 40 teams are expected to compete in the barbecue event.
[Live Music]
Music lovers can groove to the beats of blues, rock and more all weekend long.
The Cedar County Cobras will be performing on Friday, and the Duffield Brothers will play a surprise performance on Saturday.
