Hey Kids! Do YOU have what it takes to be a Master Griller?
Come find out at the Up in Smoke Kids “Q” this Saturday

[May 31, 2017]  LINCOLN - This weekend the place to be in Logan County will be downtown Lincoln for the annual Up in Smoke on the Square BBQ competitions. This event, coupled with a home brew competition and opportunity to sample craft beers from many different Illinois breweries, make up the annual Pigs & Swigs event that many have come to love.

As part of this event, the Up in Smoke committees in past years added an event for youngsters and teens, offering those young grillers the opportunity to show off their abilities and hone their competitive skills for the next generation of KCBS competitors.

The Kids Q returns this year and will be held on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse Square on Saturday afternoon. Competition will be divided into two age groups. One class will be for ages 7 to 11 years old and the second class will be for kids between the ages of 12 and 15-years-old.

There is room in the competition for twenty teams (total of both classes). Teams may have up to two members, or kids can cook solo. Parents must be present for set-up and tear down, and stay in the area with their kids during the competition. However, parents may not assist the kids or coach from the sidelines.

Each team will be supplied with a grill and one pound of ground beef to prepare as they wish. Competitors may bring their own added ingredients such as spices or seasonings, sauces, garnishes, buns, and cheese. Up in Smoke volunteers will be on hand during the competition to assist with grills and handling of hot coals.

The competition will begin at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday with entry turn-in to be at 2:45 p.m. The competition allows for a five minute window on either side of the turn-in time. In other words entries may be turned in to the judges NO EARLIER than 2:40 p.m. and NO LATER than 2:50 p.m.

Judging for the event will be a ‘double blind” judging with entries being turned in using numbered containers provided by the Up in Smoke organizers.

Pre-registration is required but may be done online by following this link: http://www.lincolnbbq.com/index.php/kids-que/kids-q-online-applicaton 

Rules and regulations for the competition should be studied thoroughly, and may be found at this link: http://www.lincoln bbq.com/images/documents/kidsqrulesregs waiver2017.pdf

On Saturday, competitors need to check in at the BBQ Event Tent on Kickapoo Street between noon and 12:45. There will be an official competitors meeting in the same location at 12:45 p.m. Competitor and parent or guardian attendance is mandatory.

This year the winning team will receive a trophy and a $100 cash prize to be awarded at 5 p.m. on Saturday evening along with the KCBS competitor awards.

The Kids Q is sponsored by Woods & Bates Attorneys at Law, Royal Oak Charcoal, and the Lincoln D.A.R.E/Lincoln FOP.

[Nila Smith]