Amateur and professional chefs battle for best barbecue

NEWBERRY – Who makes the best barbecue around? Everyone will know the answer to that question as amateur and professional chefs put their skills to the test at the 7th Annual Newberry Fall Market Festival and Barbecue Cook Off.

The event starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, when four amateur and three professional barbecue chefs compete in their own categories for the award of best overall barbecue. A cash prize of $100 plus an apron awaits the winner, along with all the bragging rights that go along with that distinction.

The smell of ribs, chicken, beef or pork, slowly roasting over low flames, will direct most visitors to the festival location along South Seaboard Drive in the downtown area. Many competitors will have been up all night tending their fires to deliver their best barbecue meats and sauces for sale to visitors during the day and to the judges at 1 p.m.

While the judges decide some of the winners, there will also be an opportunity for visitors to vote for their favorite barbecue in the people’s choice category. Winners in the best amateur barbecue, best professional barbecue, best overall barbecue, best barbecue sauce and people’s choice barbecue categories will be announced between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

In addition, more than 50 arts and crafts vendors will be displaying items for sale. One vendor, for instance, makes handcrafted music stands and harps made from old pianos. Christmas and Halloween decorations, purses, jewelry, handcrafted wooden bowls, cypress furniture, quilts, candles, canned goods and items made with dried flowers will be up for sale.

Live musical performances by Late Night Delivery and the Flying Turtles String Band will also go on throughout the day. Bounce houses, face-painting and other games and events for children will also be available.

Ten percent of the sales of barbecue foods from each competitor will be donated to the Main Street Organization for future projects to benefit Newberry.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com