Plant City barbecue aficionados are gearing up for the 12th annual Pig Jam, a Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce event that promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.
The most significant change for this state championship barbecue competition is that for the first time, it will be a two-day event.
“It has grown so much, we decided to take it to the next level,” Marion Smith, chamber president, said.
The evening of Friday, Nov. 21, will be a chance for guests to get some barbecue, enjoy the family activities on site, such as a rock climbing wall and moon bounce, and meet the competitors. At 7:30 p.m., there will be a performance by the popular local band Clemons Road.
The next day will offer the same great food and fun activities, as well as the actual barbecue competition, pitting about 80 teams against one another. There will also be four local bands playing from 10:30 a.m. until the late afternoon. The bands will be on two separate stages, so that music can be heard anywhere on site.
“It’s a day for the family. We have plenty activities for kids, and we’ve expanded that area,” Smith said. “You could spend hours up there.”
There will be a raffle drawing at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Raffle tickets are $10 each, and the winner can choose his or her prize: a Big Green Egg grill; a 65-quart YETI cooler; or a $1,500 shopping spree at Southside Western and Outdoor Wear.
More than 100 judges will be present to select the best barbecue masters in the state. They are all certified by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
“These people are coming from all over,” Smith said. “A lot of them are local, but we have some coming from out of state, because that’s what they like to do. Some of them are master judges who have judged many competitions.”
The grand champion for the professional division will win $3,000. Other winners up to 10th place, both professional and amateur, will win cash prizes and trophies that have a new design this year. The judging categories are for barbecue ribs, barbecue pork, beef brisket and chicken.
The top winners at Pig Jam in Plant City will go on to compete against more than 500 teams at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City, in fall 2015.
IF YOU GO
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22
Where: Randy Larson Softball Four-Plex Stadium, 1500 S. Park Road, Plant City
Cost: Free admission, $5 per car for parking
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.