Organizers with the International Bar-B-Q Festival in Owensboro are hoping to build on an increase in attendance over the past few years.
The annual event is being held tomorrow and Saturday along the city’s riverfront area. Festival co-chair Sharon NeSmith says about 30,000 people showed up last year.
NeSmith, who has lived in Owensboro since they age of four, says she’s been attending the festival since it began in 1979.
She thinks the festival has managed to stay true to its roots.
“I like the way it was described in the first brochure that ever came out about the festival—that it was taking the atmosphere of a country church picnic to the downtown urban area. And that basically really describes what we do,” NeSmith said.
This year’s festival continues the annual tradition of local church teams competing in the Friday barbeque cooking competition.
Teams compete in the categories of burgoo, chicken, and mutton.
NeSmith says the competition is a great way for visitors to learn about the art of creating great barbeque.
“Just being able to see how food is actually cooked, and slow-cooked, over time and over the wood.”
You can see a list of festival eventshere.
