Skip to content

Mainprize to host barbecue cooking contest

Mainprize Regional Park is going to host a barbecue smoker cooking contest next month as a fundraiser for the park. The event will be Sept. 1 from 3-8 p.m. at Pederson Place, which is the hall inside the park. Food sampling will start at 5 p.m.

Mainprize Regional Park is going to host a barbecue smoker cooking contest next month as a fundraiser for the park.

The event will be Sept. 1 from 3-8 p.m. at Pederson Place, which is the hall inside the park. Food sampling will start at 5 p.m. Participants will purchase their meats, apply seasoning, and set up their cookers before the event.

“Some people have entered the competition,” said Donna Frank, who is the park’s business manager. “Other people can come out and sample all the food.”

Frank said the park conducted a survey, and lot of people voiced an interest in having a cookoff of some sort.

“We surveyed people to see what kind of events they want to have, and this one came up,” said Frank.

The park hopes to have at least half a dozen chefs entered, and people can still submit an entry. Frank said they would like to have all the entries received by Aug. 29, so they have time to finalize the ballots for the people’s choice award.

A beer garden will be on-site for adults, and there will be bouncy castles for children.

An admission fee of $10 will be charged for adults and $5 for youths. Food samples of two to four ounces will be sold for $5 each.

Frank compared it to Savour the Southeast, since people will be able to purchase the samples.

The cooking contest will have a competitive element. Judges will be evaluating the best smoked pork ribs and roast beef, with a top prize of $200 in each category, and there will be a people’s choice award.

Admission and beer garden revenues will go to improvements at the park, while the revenue generated from the sale of food sample tickets will go back to the chefs, to help pay for the cost of the food. The cooks will be reimbursed based on how many food tickets they hand in at the end of the event.

Frank noted there are improvements needed at the park, such as fresh paint for the golf course building. 

“We want to have some fun things at the park,” said Frank.