Keith and Diane Logan stopped by our place on their way from Indiana to see how their condo and boats faired in Punta Gorda, FL after Hurricane Ian had its way with them. Nothing cheers up a gloomy task like a warm, bright day filled with fun. Last Saturday we took the Logans with us to the 7th Annual Scottsboro BBQ Festival in Alabama.
Scottsboro closed the streets around its historic courthouse square. Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain has anchored one corner since 1869. Its retro vibe will have you drinking peanuts in your Coke with their “Great Southern PImento Cheese Sandwich” and daydreaming about simpler times.
The BBQ Fest Activity List was long, with something for everyone. The Car Show was spread over three blocks and included trucks and motorcycles. It was a “drive ’em in and register to win” event, with attendees voting for the money winners.
The variety of vehicles at an open event like this one always brings surprises. This Cummins Turbo Diesel Rat Rod was the first of its kind I’d ever seen. What a beast!
The Bark-Off Dog Show on the Main Stage had a Selfie Booth for proud owners to record their dog’s big day. The “Jolly Green Schnauzer” with the “Corn Hole” banner across its butt took the $100 first prize. My favorite was the “Beetlejuice Hound.”
Cute gils handed out 25%-off coupons at this orange truck advertising for Unclaimed Baggage. The nation’s only orphaned luggage retailer sells the lost goods in Scottsboro.
Scottsboro bears a scar on its past from the nine young men, traveling by train through Jackson County, who were falsely accused of raping two white women, hastily convicted and all but the youngest sentenced to death in 1931. It took 80 years to exonerate and pardon the Scottsboro Nine, after proving the only crime they committed was being black in Alabama.
Homer reminded us that BBQ and sampling mouth-watering meats was the main focus for the day.
There were three BBQ contests. The People’s Choice was “Cook it at home and let the crowd choose the winners.” For $10 dollars you got 10-tastes of home-cooked meats and 10-home-made desserts. The line for this palate-pleaser stretched out of sight, but moved quickly. Earlier “Kids-Q pitted ages 7-12 against each other for the best grilled burgers.
Contestants in the “Backyard BBQ Contest” set up elaborate smokers on three side streets of the downtown square to compete for a $500 grand prize. They kept the air saturated with the mouth-watering aroma of smoked meats. I spied the smoke from the double stacks on this super smoker, that from a distance, looked like a steamship chugging up the road. Our favorite thing to do at these events, is talk with the grill-masters about their craft, secrets and cooking equipment. Brandon Glover, of Blackwater BBQ in Jasper, Alabama built this beauty.
Brandon Glover took the time to tell me about building his awesome smoker and show me his chicken and ribs entries on the grill. His wife gave us a sample of his marvelous pulled pork. He said, “I do this for fun and to meet unique people.” The beef roast on Brandon’s grill is cooking for a neighbor who dropped by out of the blue and asked if he would “Throw it on his grill.” Brandon said, “I hope he comes back before we have to go home.”
Reflecting on the Scottsboro BBQ Festival, we all agreed it was an event worth revisiting. I must mention the “Witches’ Parade” that threw candy to the kids, 140 arts and crafts vendors and how nice everybody was. Thanks, Scottsboro. We’ll be back next year.