4th Annual Blues & BBQ Event

People packed the street this past weekend, July 18-20, for the 4th Annual Blues & BBQ event held in the historic Downtown Hays Chestnut Street District. Throughout the weekend, the streets were filled with live music, awesome bargains and great smelling BBQ.

The Blues and BBQ event began as a sidewalk sale downtown which consisted of having a DJ play blues music and vendors serve BBQ. The sidewalk sale component has grown to include both the Mall and Centennial Mall and free trolley rides between the three locations. Also, the blues music component has grown to include not only a DJ but several live bands as well. Finally, new this year was a BBQ contest which followed the Kansas City Barbeque Society rules and regulations.

The BBQ Contest was held on West 10th Street between Main and Fort Streets on Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19. Six contestants competed in the non-sanctioned Open Division which consisted of cooking four meats: chicken, pork, brisket and ribs, and the People’s Choice Division which consisted of cooking brisket for the general public to sample and vote on their favorite. The Grand Champion for this year’s Open Division category was Woody’s Sweet Meat from Hays. The team, which consisted of Chris Schumacher, Paul Jones, Ryan Fitzmorris and Kurt Martin became the proud owners of a 2008 Traeger Lil’ Tex 070 grill, donated by Crawford Supply. Donna’s Party Time BBQ/Donna Riedel of Ellis was the Grand Reserve Champion and took home $300 cash.

The People’s Choice Division, which consisted only of brisket donated by Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., was open to the public. Community members were invited to purchase a $5.00 ticket which entitled them to a sampling of six types of brisket as well as two side dishes including a pasta salad compliments of Rooftops Restaurant and Bar and baked beans compliments of Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co. Volunteers served up 20 smoked briskets to approximately 200 people in about 50 minutes before selling out. The first 50 people to sample the different flavored brisket were eligible to vote for their favorite. After that, the competition element ended due to only having five types of brisket left, thus making the voting fair to the competitors. Junkyard Dog BBQ/Ralph Zerr was the winner of the People’s Choice and claimed a $125 prize.

Other BBQ contest winners were: Mayor’s Choice – Donna’s Party Time BBQ, Best Chicken – Smokin’ Drinkin’s/Terry Kinderknecht, Best Ribs – Donna’s Party Time BBQ, Best Pulled Pork – Smokin’ Drinkin’s, and Best Brisket – Smokin’ Spray’s BBQ/Roy Spray II.

In addition to the BBQ Contest and sidewalk sale, several community members came out for the live blues music. Performing live at the Mall early Friday evening was MudBone followed by Shawn Cole, who performed downtown in Union Pacific Park. A beer garden, hosted by Sip N Spin and The Brass Rail owner Eric Schuette and Blues and BBQ volunteers, was available Friday evening during Shawn Cole’s performance. Saturday late morning and early afternoon, Jimmie Lewin and the Kingtones performed live downtown. Finally, Nightingale, the Smith Brothers and Mario Lozoya played live at Coffee Rules Saturday evening during the Blues and BBQ wrap-up party.

Special thanks goes out to all our sponsors, contributors, and volunteers who helped make Blues & BBQ such a successful event. Sponsors included Cerv’s, Main Street Express, Coffee Rules, Commerce Bank, Crawford Supply, Gella’s & Lb. Brewing Co., Hays Daily News, and Liberty Group. Contributors consisted of ASC Portables, Around the World, Cavendar Fireworks & Tent Rental, City of Hays, Goodwin Sporting Goods, Hays Trophies & Engraving, Henry Schwaller & Associates, Inc., Midnight Productions, Midwest Energy, Midwest Music, Ranch Raised Beef,Wal-Mart and the Wild West Festival Committee. And to the many volunteers and friends that assisted with this event, this couldn’t have happened without your dedication to community projects. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Official 2008 Blues and BBQ T-shirts are still available for $10.00. (T-shirt design can be viewed online at www.chestnutstreetdistrict.com) Contact the Downtown Hays Development Corporation office at 785.628.8201 to place an order. The date for next year’s Blues and BBQ event will be released soon!