An old breakfast saying (if there are such things as breakfast sayings) goes like this:  “The chicken is dedicated, but the pig is committed.”

Next weekend in downtown Huntsville, green eggs and barrel grills will exhale clouds of smokey thank yous to a yard full of committed barnyard animals as we celebrate the annual Whistlestop Barbecue Festival.

And we’re giving away a pair of tickets! See below for details.

Whistlestop has something for every member of the family. Live Music. Cold Beers. Guys that spend untold amounts of dollars of money on barbecue and supplies in blissful pursuit of a $30 trophy.  Now in its 12th year, Whistlestop has grown into a regional competition attracting championship grillmen from all over the Southeast. Click here for a complete schedule of events.

If you are a fan of not being hungry, you should consider this a spectator sport.

Get Your Party On

Here’s the breakdown:  Friday is party night.  Get your coolers in early and do a little tent-hopping.  The central ring of the Shade Tree Division is where the real fun is, including creative adult beverage table games and high-stakes corn hole matches.  Picture a backyard cookout…with a really big back yard and all your drunken uncles.

The competition between the teams and a fun-loving energy permeates the atmosphere just like the woodsmoke through your girlfriend’s hair. It’s the only scenario in modern life in which hickory splits and bags of ice become universally accepted currency.  For music fans, the main stage highlights Shenandoah, The Secret Sisters, and John Anderson.

Bring your five hour energies…Friday can be a late night.

Game Face On

Saturday is all about the competition.  Teams compete for either amateur or professional bragging rights, and vendors will make sure you’ve got plenty of dining options.

This year, the festival introduces a sanctioned corn hole tournament, so you can justify as practice rounds the $300 bucks you lost in wagers the night before.  This 64 Team Double Elimination Tournament starts Friday night at 6:00pm, and the final rounds begin Saturday night.

The Saturday night bill features Confederate Railroad, Iron Horse, The Crossfire Band, and James Wesley.  The winners for all competitions will be announced at 8:30PM on the main stage, at which point the sun-stroked and soggy barbecuers will go home and pass out in front of their disapproving wives.

One of the cooler and more accessible of the annual Huntsville celebrations, you don’t want to sit at home this weekend.

Come out and crack one Friday night and see what happens…or better yet, help make it happen!

Kinzer

Event Details

Date: May 4th & 5th
Location: Historic Huntsville Depot
Cost: Weekend Pass $35; Single Day Ticket $25; Children ages 5-12 $5. Click here for information on purchasing tickets
Organization: Proceeds benefit EarlyWorks Children’s Museum

Ticket Giveaway

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