BLYTHEWOOD – On Monday night, Doko Meadows Event Manager Steve Hasterok presented a proposal to town council for a Spring Rib Cook-off. The event would be sponsored by the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser to be held March 14, 2020 in Doko Meadows Park.
The Chamber will be requesting $14,900 from the Town’s hospitality tax fund to finance the event. That request will come at the next town council meeting on Jan. 27.
“We haven’t done anything like this before in Blythewood,” the Chamber’s interim director Phil Frye told council members, “but I think it will be well attended and lots of fun for everyone. I think it’s time we do some different things that the people in the community enjoy.”
The cook-off will be judged by the Southern BBQ Network and will feature three separate cooking divisions – professional, amateur and veterans.
“We’ll have 20 slots each for professional and amateur cook teams and 10 slots for the veterans cook teams,” Frye said. “Entry fees will be $150 for professional cook teams and $75 for amateur and veterans’ teams. In addition, we’ll be seeking sponsors for each cook team. Those sponsorships will be $150 each.”
There will also be opportunities for corporate sponsorships of $1,000 each for the event as well.
Vendors other than cook teams can rent spaces for $100. Frye told The Voice that there will be no vendor charge for Blythewood service clubs such as the Lions Club and no fee for other non-profits whose booths do not make sales or otherwise take in revenue at the event.
“We will have several beer vendors. Anyone or any group wishing to provide beer sales should check with me,” Frye said.
Money prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $3,000 to be divided among the pro winners, $1,500 among the amateur winners and $750 among the veterans’ winners.
Entertainment for the event will be provided by musicians Blues Delux, the Phiul Mac band and Susan Douglass Taylor of Winnsboro. Ramblin’ Road and Stampede will also be on stage.
Rib slabs will be distributed to cook teams at 6 a.m., and judging will begin at noon at the same time the public can start purchasing rib plates.
The event will last from 12 noon – 10 p.m. Rib plates will be $10 each.
“We hope everyone will save the date and plan to come out and have a really good time. We’ll have good music, the playground and other activities for the children and some really fine barbecue ribs,” Frye said.
