The Stuart Revitalization Committee is preparing for one of their big events of the year.

Stuart Revitalization Committee member Russ Wagner says that the Best of the Block BBQ Competition is back once again. He mentions that this fundraising event for local organizations has become a favorite for the community, as it brings in teams of meat smokers and BBQ’ers from around the state that travel all around the Midwest to compete.

Wagner tells Raccoon Valley Radio how things will get started.

“Once they check in, we distribute all the meat, and they cook all night. We do do a chili feed Friday at about 5:30pm, which is a free will offering, and then we have music for the remainder. Not a whole lot happening other than that on Friday. Saturday is the big day.”

Wagner explains that on Saturday, there will be a vendor fair from 10am to 3pm, with games, give-aways and family friendly fun and activities from 11am to 5pm. He adds that BBQ judging will begin at 3pm, with awards to be handed out at 5pm, along with the bike night event being from 5-10pm. At 5:30pm there will be a pie auction, silent auction and raffle, and at 6pm there will be a BBQ Meat Fest using the meats prepared by the competing teams. The meal will be a free will donation, and then a live band will perform starting at 7pm. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Cottage Pantry in Stuart and the American Legion.