PASCAGOULA—The Flagship District in Pascagoula will be transformed into a bbq block party for the seventh annual Downtown BBQ Throwdown where 25 teams will go grill to grill to win great prizes and annual bragging rights.
Hosted by the Pascagoula Men’s Club, the event has grown from eight teams to more than 20 this year. Event organizer Bruce Linton said the event grows in popularity each year with many teams participating each year and adding new teams as well. He said the venue is the main draw of the throwdown.
“I always hear from the teams that the venue we have in downtown Pascagoula is the best,” Linton said as teams prepare to take over Delmas Street and Canty Avenue. “Our mission was always to bring attention and business to the downtown area, and as it has grown over the years, so has the competition.”
The competition will include big rig competitors along with backyard grillers who enjoy the camaraderie of the grilling family. The Block Party kicks off on Friday, October 17, at 7 p.m. with live music and an opportunity to mingle with the teams and maybe even sample some grilled delicacies. Teams will spend the night on site preparing the competition meats: ribs, brisket and pork butts. Judging begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, for the Main Event.
Attendance at the block party and main event are free, but guests may want to purchase an all-you-can-eat bracelet for $15 that allows you to be the judge of which team has the best. In keeping with the alien experience in Pascagoula, there is a UFO category where anything goes.
Linton said trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for each category. First place winners will take home a trophy and $750, and second place wins $250 and a trophy. Third place winners are awarded a trophy. The winner of the UFO category wins a trophy and $500.
Along with the grilling teams and tasting, there will also be local arts and craft vendors located in the mix. Prizes will be announced after 3 p.m. The Pascagoula Men’s Club initially created the event to bring business to downtown, but it has become one of two fundraisers that allow the men to give back to the community.
“We have several local sponsors along with some corporate sponsors that are very, very dedicated to our calls to help us put on this event,” Linton said. “The BBQ competition and our annual fishing rodeo are our two main fundraisers that allow the club to fund community projects throughout the year.”
Annual projects of the Pascagoula Men’s Club include a Thanksgiving ham donation to local churches, exceeding 400 hams for the needy. The club also makes a donations to the schools for caps and gowns for graduation and assists the residents of Adrian’s House during the Christmas season. Other projects include raising money for the firefighter’s association for firefighters with cancer, donating funds to the police department for the canine bulletproof vest, and any other projects that arise in the community.
Linton said that due to the growth of this competition, the Pascagoula Men’s Club Downtown BBQ Throwdown could be a Memphis in May sanctioned event as early as next year.
