DEXTER — Grille It Up is back Friday and Saturday with all of the community favorites, including mud volleyball and bed races.
Organizers are excited to bring this event back to Dexter for its ninth year, said Jamie Rowe, director of the Dexter Parks Department.
“This is a great community event that pulls people from different areas,” said Rowe. “They come to town and see what Dexter has to offer. It also helps when people come in, like our car show people, from Arkansas, Memphis, and different areas. They’re staying here, eating here, shopping here.
“It’s a great way for us to bring in some new faces and it’s also something for everybody.”
Events will be held in East Park, with activities going from 5-9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Rowe shared that the park is different this year because of the Memorial Day tornado that took down a lot of trees.
“We’ve lost a lot of shade,” she said.
But the event will have all of its staples and expects a good turnout for the car show and craft vendors, as well as new food trucks.
“We always try to pull in new food trucks,” Rowe said.
The event is free to the public, although there are charges for products from outside vendors.
The Super Troopers Mud Volleyball match will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday.
“The army is also putting in a team that will be playing Friday night,” Rowe said. “That’s going to be a fun event.”
The adult cornhole tournament begins at 5:30 p.m., with a registration deadline of July 11. The cost is $25 per team.
Bed races start at 6:15 p.m. Businesses, clubs and others will see who can make it to the finish line first, wheeling an oversized bed.
Events start at 8 a.m. Saturday, with the car show check in and Memory Lane. Memory Lane allows individuals to display a loved one’s car in their memory.
The cook off competition is backyard style, Rowe said. This means it’s not sanctioned but that anyone who entered by June 27 can compete.
Members of the public can purchase wristbands that will allow them to taste competition food. Meats are provided this year to competitors by Southern Custom Meats.
The mud volleyball tournament for those aged 16 and older starts at 10 a.m.
Children’s activities will also be on-site, including a jump station and bounce houses.
Music for the event is provided by SEMO Selfie and Sound.
Rowe said this event is made possible by the contributions of many sponsors.