17th Street Bar & Grill and a host of major sponsors are gearing up for theÊ21st Annual Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-offÊto be heldÊSept. 18 - 20, 2008, in Murphysboro, Illinois.
Over 40 teams from 13 different states will compete in aÊunique dual-sanctioned Memphis Barbecue Network and Kansas City Barbecue Society event. The Grand Champions in each contest are also proclaimed theÊIllinois State Champion.
"Our contest has always been affiliated with Memphis Barbecue Network," explains Mike Mills of 17th Street Bar & Grill and one of the event's original founders. "Barbecue competitions are the new NASCAR and there are many different different styles of competitions out there. The Kansas City Barbecue Society events have different cooking and judging rules and this is a great opportunity for two different groups to come together and learn from one another. It also brings a whole new group of people to Murphysboro and to Southern Illinois."
In addition to the barbecue cooking teams, hundreds of volunteer judges and ambassadors travel to Murphysboro as well.
"Judging in Murphysboro is one of the highlights of our year," said Hap Zook of Morton, Illinois. "We wouldn't miss it for anything."
The contest features a number ofÊevents for local supporters. There's a fish fry on Thursday night and the Grand Champion Buffet on Friday night is followed by a street dance with live music by Mindset Evolution from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Southbound from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The general public and business owners can purchase tickets as part of a sponsorship package to support the event. Tickets areÊavailable at the doorÊduring each event as well.
New this year is a people's choice Barbecue Sauce Contest which can be entered by the general public and barbecue teams.
Entries can be turned in on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5-7 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 at the 17th Street Warehouse.
The public is invited to sample the sauces and cast their votes for their favorites Friday evening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (during the Grand Champion Buffet) and Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.ÊThe winner will receive $100 (sponsored by University Dental Center) and will be announced during the awards ceremony which starts at 6 p.m.
Proceeds from the sauce contest, sponsored by Friends of Murphysboro committee, will go toward building a dog park in Murphysboro.
Call the 17th Street office at 618-684-8902 for details about sponsorship, tickets, the sauce contest, and the barbecue competition.
The Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off is a not-for-profit community event designed to celebrate the art and heritage of championship barbecue cooking.
The event draws 5,000-plus people to Southern Illinois and showcases our area's superb hospitality and unique charm.
Over 200 local sponsors make this event possible. Major sponsors include 17th Street Bar & Grill, Memphis Championship Barbecue, Mediacom, Bank of Marion, City of Murphysboro, CWI, Henson's Septic, Pepsi, Schwebel's Printing, Silkworm, Ink, Union Square Hospitality Group, Shelnutt & Associates, U.S. Foods, Ole Hickory Pits, and River Radio.