"BBQ Judgment Day" is approaching at Ooltewah's Cambridge Square, 9453 Bradmore Lane, where the second Ooltewah Barbecue Brawl will be held Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Eight local teams will vie for cash prizes in people's choice and judges' contests, with $500 going to the first-place winners in both contests, $200 awarded to second-place winners and $100 to third-place winners.
"We'll have people stay up all night cooking barbecue," says Steve Ray, event organizer and pit master of the Owl's Nest barbecue team. "All food will come right from the pit."
Last year's inaugural brawl drew 2,500 attendees, and although Cambridge Square can't hold many more people, Ray says he'd like to see the family-friendly event continue to grow.
Admission is free; visitors can pay teams $1 to sample their barbecue, which will vary from chicken to pork to beef to ribs.
Once tasters have picked their favorite, they can pay $1 to vote in the people's choice contest. Money paid for voting will go into a pot to be divided between the six winners, which they'll receive in addition to the cash prizes, says Ray.
Teams will submit ribs for the judges at 1 p.m.
This year's brawl is honoring Ooltewah and Collegedale's first responders. Ray, who is owner of Midnite Oil on Lee Highway, had a fire at the service station in February and credits the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department with saving his business.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.