Smoke on the Falls BBQ competition on tap this weekend at Noccalula Falls
Ninety-two professional and backyard teams from nine states are set to compete in the 14th annual Smoke on the Falls barbecue competition Friday and Saturday at Noccalula Falls Park.
Teams are set to start arriving on Thursday for the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event, according to Janet Tarrance, event supervisor for the Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department.
Meat inspection begins at 9 a.m. Friday and the teams meeting is at 5:15 p.m. It will be followed by the Ole Smoky Drunk Chicken and Tipsy Cocktail contests; there are 16 pro or backyard entries in those, according to Tarrance.
Participants must turn in seven pieces of chicken (legs, wings or leg quarters), using Hal Hendrix Hot Honey in the preparation. Cocktail entries can use any liquor, but Old Smoky’s Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter or Peach whiskeys must be featured. Awards will be presented to the top three places and for Best Drunk Chicken or Tipsy Cocktails names, and the best tasting cocktail.
Saturday features the main event: pro grillers preparing and submitting their best brisket, chicken, pork and ribs, and backyard grillers turning out their best chicken and ribs.
Tarrance said visitors are welcome, and might get an occasional sample, but cautioned, “... These teams are competing for big money and that is their main focus. To them this competition is like playing the Iron Bowl.”
Meat turn-in starts at noon. Top prizes are $3,000 for the Grand Champion and $1,200 for the Reserve Champion in the pro division, and $1,000 for the Grand Champion and $500 for the Reserve Champion in the backyard division. Smaller awards will be presented in each division’s individual meat classes.
Awards for best team name, best team decorations and longest distance traveled also will be presented in each division, as will Hometown Showdown and Smoke on the Falls Golden Egg awards.
Twenty teams are entered in Saturday’s Cheeseburger in Paradise contest, which spotlights San Antonio as the “destination.” Entries will be judged on appearance, burger names, creativity and taste. Each team must turn in two twin burgers; bonus points will be given for side items.
Three place trophies will be awarded, plus trophies for the best burger name and the “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” burger. The Coosa Landsharks Parrotheads, a collective of Jimmy Buffett fans, will judge the competition.
New this year is the Kidz-Q contest with two age groups: 6-10 and 11-14. There are 18 entrants, according to Tarrance, who will be provided with a grill (to keep), and meat pre-patted into burger size. Entrants must provide buns, condiments and toppings, and parents or guardians must be present.
One whole display burger, and a second burger cut into six pieces must be submitted for judging, which will be by KCBS judges and based on appearance, tenderness/texture and taste. An overall winner and the best cook/team name will be selected in each division.
The awards ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Tarrance said the event will have an increased local presence this year. Mayor Craig Ford and John Moore, the city's director of economic development and governmental affairs, will be judges for the Ole Smoky Drunk Chicken Contest; Parks and Recreation Director Jen Weathington will be this year's KCBS meat inspector; and Hal Hendrix with Hendrix Honey and Chef JP Pendergrass, owner of JP and Son restaurant, have joined several Gadsden residents in becoming certified KCBS judges.
Sponsors of the event include Coca-Cola, Coke, Academy Sports & Outdoors, WinS’outh Credit Union, Jacks Restaurant, Johnsons Giant Food, Ole Smoky, Hal Hendrix Honey, Downtown Chief, JP & Son. Local Joes, Walmart, Lowes, Adams Beverage, Coosa Landsharks, Pearl River Resort, Kinder BBQ, Big Poppa Smokers, SmokeHouse Crackers, Goat USA, 4Imprint and SNAP Ed.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Smoke on the Falls on tap at Noccalula Falls Park
