Barbecue lovers can sample their favorite food from our region this weekend. Barbecue on the River is underway in downtown Paducah for its 20th year. Thirty-five teams are participating in the completion, raising money for charity. Barbecue on the River director David Boggs says Barbecue is being sold with vendors selling out on the first day said.
“I mean, there’s always great food, great barbecue. That’s one of our goals is to serve some of the best barbecue in the country,” Boggs said. “It was a good crowd. I mean, I haven’t heard any numbers yet from any vendors, but I, mean everybody seemed happy today.”
The festival started with 16 teams and a one-day event. Now teams compete over three days, serving around 80,000 pounds of pork while raising nearly $450,000 for 75 charities.
Six-time Grand Champion James Stovall of Larry, Darrell and Darrel says new teams do not know what it was like when the festival started.
“For 20 years it’s been great,” he said. “This is our 20th reflecting on our 20 years ago and what it was like.”
The festival runs 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. today and 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. A large crowd is expected with mild fall weather forecasted for the weekend. The award ceremony kicks off at four pm Saturday.
The intersections at Broadway and 4th Street and Broadway and 5th Street may be closed during the festival.
Shuttle service will be provided from Carson Park Thursday and Friday, 4:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. The shuttle runs from Carson Park to a drop off point near the National Quilt Museum. Handicap parking is located behind the Finkel's building.
For more information about the Barbeque on the River festival, visit www.bbqontheriver.org. For information about the Old Market Days festival, visit www.paducahalliance.org.
