More than 90 professional and 30 amateur barbecue cooks will be competing in Cumming today and Saturday.
The National BBQ Cup: Que’n in Cumming is set for 5 to 10 tonight and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at the Cumming Fairgrounds.
Organizer Randall Bowman is expecting large crowds.
“We’ll have a lot of different things going on, so I’m hoping for at least 10,000 people,” he said.
More than $20,000 in prize money will be awarded to competitors in several different categories, including chicken, pork, beef, sauce and desserts.
Some of the teams have been featured on national television programs spotlighting professional barbecuing.
Bowman said the event is the largest in Georgia to be sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. It’s also part of the Georgia Barbecue Championship series.
“We have seven of the top 10 barbecue teams in the country competing,” he said. “Twenty-one states will be represented, and we’ll have judges from at least as many states.”
Visitors can also serve as judges for the “people’s choice” category.
For $5 above and beyond the $5 admission cost, Bowman explained, the public can buy a pass to try all the competitors’ pork barbecue and then vote for a favorite.
Non-professionals will also have a chance to show off their skills in the competition’s backyard division.
The event will also feature a number of other food vendors and concerts from Georgia country music artists, as well as a large Kids’ Zone with inflatables, games and other activities.
All proceeds from the event will support several local nonprofits.
Primary beneficiaries are the Forsyth Community Connection, Bald Ridge Lodge and Jesse’s House, although Mentor Me North Georgia will hold its annual Ball Drop fundraiser at 4 p.m. Saturday during the event.
In addition, Supporting Adoption & Foster Families Together will be selling concessions.
Volunteers are also needed to help with a variety of jobs from monitoring the Kids’ Zone to maintenance of the grounds.
Those interested in volunteering should sign up at www.connectforsyth.org.