Cape Girardeau hosts biggest BBQ Fest yet

On Friday night, Arena Park was full of music, barbecue and bragging.

It was the first night of the Cape BBQ Fest, a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event hosted by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, and an opportunity for people to sample the work of teams competing for a trophy, cash prizes and bragging rights in Saturday's competition. It also was the night of the showmanship contest, where teams were encouraged to put on a show for the crowd.

For the second year in a row, the Rhodes 101 Stop team took the showmanship trophy home. They parodied popular country music songs, such as "Cruise" by Florida Georgia, "Swine" and "Friends in 'Rhodes' Places" by Garth "Cooks."

The Mike Renick Band prepares to perform at the 21st annual Cape BBQ Fest Friday, Aug. 23, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Event chairman Robbie Guard said Friday night was all about entertainment and inviting the public to be part of the event, but Saturday was all about the competition and the teams.

The grand champion, the Smoking T's team from St. Louis, received a trophy and $2,000. The reserve grand champion, 4 Smokin Butts of Millstadt, Ill., received $1,000. Teams had to barbecue in all four meat categories -- chicken, pork, pork ribs and brisket -- to be eligible for the top awards. The top 10 finishers in each meat category also received prize money.

In the 21 years the event has been held and the 10 years it has been sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, Guard said this year was the best they've had.

"I never thought it would be this big," he said. "We're very pleased with our sponsors and our volunteers. We never could have done this without the community's support."

This year, there are 56 teams from eight states competing. Guard said he was pleasantly surprised by this year's sudden popularity and hopes to keep the momentum for next year.

The Cape West Rotary Club's Rockin Rotary Roasters was among the local teams. This is the fifth year the team has competed. It was going for the grand championship.

"We're very optimistic," team member Skip Wrape said. "The competition looks tougher this year, but we're ready for them."

Fellow team member Mike Radake agreed. This year, he said the team was up for the challenge.

"I think after five years, we've learned from our mistakes," he said.

The Hogg Pound, a six-man team from Memphis, Tenn., competed in the Cape BBQ Fest for the first time. John Borden said the team averages six to eight competitions a year within a 200-mile radius of Memphis.

"One of our members has local ties to the area, and he recommended we come out here, so we just came out to give it a try and have a good time," he said.

While the team takes the competition seriously, Borden said "good folks, family and fun" are the main driver for the team.

Tracy Williams was one of the many people sampling barbecue from the stands Friday. She said she had heard of the Cape BBQ Fest before, but this was her first time attending it.

"I think it's great to have something like this here," she said. "I think the food here is right on level with that of any competition in a bigger city."

srinehart@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

Top finishers

1. Smoking T's, St. Louis

2. 4 Smokin Butts, Millstadt, Ill.

3. Blazin Blues BBQ, St. Louis

4. Redneck Grillers, Kennett, Mo.

5. Three Knights and a Lutheran, Jackson

6. Lulu's Barbecue, Charleston, Mo.