Backyard BBQ Cook-Off brings food, music, and charity to Fort Fisher this weekend
CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Island Men of Carolina Beach are firing up the grills this weekend for their fourth annual Backyard BBQ Cookoff at Fort Fisher, bringing together family fun, live music, and a friendly competition among local pitmasters.
Organizer Lynn Halterman says the event typically draws between 1,000 and 2,000 people. “The backyard barbecue is basically made up of what I call backyard barbecuers,” Halterman said. “People who love to barbecue, they enter the contest.”
Competitors will start cooking Friday night and continue through the morning, preparing eight to ten pork butts each. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and tastings begin at 11. Guests will receive ten tasting tickets and can sample from each of the 14 cookers before voting for the People’s Choice Award.
Judges will also select first-, second-, and third-place winners using official barbecue judging criteria. Winners will receive trophies and cash prizes.
Halterman says visitors should come hungry. “If you did all ten, you would eat like 20 ounces of meat, which is like a 20-ounce steak,” he said.
Admission is $15 and includes all-you-can-eat barbecue. The event also features two live bands, local vendors, and an artisan market.
At noon, The Island Men will present a $10,000 donation to Ocean Cure, raised during the group’s recent Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Festival.
The Backyard BBQ Cookoff runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fort Fisher. Good Hops Brewing will provide beverages for the event.
