If you’re willing to drive a few short miles for some barbecue and live music, point your car toward Derby this weekend. The seventh annual Derby BBQ Festival, an event put on by the City of Derby, will once again be set up in High Park, 2801 James St. in Derby
It starts on Friday with an opening-night party from 6 to 9 p.m. that will feature seven food trucks, a beer and beverage garden, live music and a kids barbecue contest, which will invite young cooks ages 6 to 16 to cook their best chicken thighs or hamburgers on the spot.
Saturday’s events, which last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include a cook off between pro barbecue teams from across the region, and the public is invited to taste their creations. A tasting kit is $5 and entitles attendees to six 2-ounce servings of pulled pork. (Kits sell out quickly and go on sale right at 11 a.m.)
Also happening on Saturday: A backyard barbecue cookoff competition, a “food-on-a-stick” competition, live music, food trucks, a photo booth, a car show and kids activities. Admission to both days is free, though food and drink are not.
Organizers are hoping for a crowd of about 10,000 people.
A few notes: Attendees should bring cash because there’s no ATM on site. And although there will be on-site parking on Friday, Saturday’s attendees will be required to park at Rock River Rapids or the high school and shuttle down the street to the event.
People can still sign up for all three on-site competitions by visiting http://www.derbyks.com.
A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit the Airman & Family Readiness Center at McConnell Air Force Base.