Downtown BBQ wars return to Poplar Bluff on May 3-4

Competitors Blind Smoke will have the opportunity May 3-4 to defend their title as champions of Downtown Poplar Bluff’s BBQ Street Wars, but they’ll find the field has grown.

The second year of the event will include at least double the number of teams, now at 15, said DPB Director Jerrica Fox. Registration is open for the event through 5 p.m. Monday.

Fox attributed this year’s interest to the fact that the event is now sanctioned by the St. Louis BBQ Society, which will judge competitions. The Grand Champion of the Poplar Bluff event will earn an invitation to the Kansas City Royal Tournament, which pits 450 of the best competitors in the nation against each other.

The Downtown event will also include for the first time a limited number of tickets for people to taste test entries for a People’s Choice Award. Tickets can be purchased for $20 on a first come, first served basis, Fox said. They will be sold from the DPB booth between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday.

“We have 150 tickets that we’ll sell. After they’re gone, that’s it,” said Fox.

Ozark Meats has donated pork shoulder for the People’s Choice competition and ticket holders will get to sample the final product from each team.

A winner takes all wing wars will be held, along with competitions in chicken, ribs, pork butt and brisket. Chicken for the wing wars is provided by Tyson.

A live auction is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, that will include a variety of donated items, from gift certificates to grills.

All events will be held on Vine Street, between Sixth and Main streets. Fifth Street and Broadway will remain open to traffic, Fox said.

A change this year will place competitors on one side of the road and food truck vendors on the opposite side.

“(This event), it really draws people that maybe don’t think about coming downtown,” said Fox. “That’s why we chose Vine Street for it. By having this event on Vine, it really showcases those businesses. A lot of them have their doors open for people to walk in and see.”

Awards will be given out at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Awards include cash prizes.

Proceeds from the event also help support DPB operations.

For more information, visit www.downtownpoplarbluff.org/barbque-street-wars or contact DPB at 573-712-2171.