Hearts and stomachs were full in the City of Stuart as the Stuart Revitalization Group’s inaugural Best of the Block BBQ Cook-Off was a success this weekend.

Part of 2nd Street downtown was closed from Friday afternoon through Saturday night as 11 teams camped out with their cookers and the event organizers held street dances, a costume contest, chicken wing fest, and more events for the community. Organizer Russ Wagner reflects on the weekend, “I would consider it a success, we had 11 teams, we had a lot of people here. We did a chicken wing fry, all of the picnic tables were full people stay until at least 11:30 (p.m.)”

The Stuart Sesquicentennial Committee also served up some tasty treats Saturday with a pie auction that featured 22 entries and raised over $1,000 for next year’s sesquicentennial celebration, according to Committee Co-Chair Cheryl Marks. While there was some rain over the weekend, Wagner says that didn’t spoil the competing teams’ spirits, “All we got was positive feedback, out of the 11 (teams) at least 10 asked to be invited back next year if we do it again so hopefully we’ll make this an annual event.”

Team T-Rex BBQ of Newton was named the grand champion Saturday night, and the funds raised from the event will go to the Stuart Cottage Pantry and Stuart Emergency Medical Services.