Bluegrass Jam Moves to a new date September 29th, 2007
Thrill of the Grill CompetitorsARTHUR, Ill. — Bluegrass and barbecue may have gotten to be too good a thing in the small central Illinois town of Arthur.For the past few years, the east central Illinois community played host to a weekend, sanctioned barbecue contest coupled with a big bluegrass jam. Trouble is too many folks came to town to cook and watch the professional , semi-pro and amateur barbecue teams and to pick bluegrass.
As a result, the two events are being split this year into different weekends. This year’s Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Jam will be held on Sept. 29 in downtown Arthur. Each year, more than 100 pickers have shown up for the event,and organizers expect another good turnout this year, despite being split off from the smell of hickory smoke and slow-roasted ribs.
The Arthur Downtown Merchants Committee sponsors the event, which is named after the late Chet Kingery, an amateur but quite avid bluegrasser.
Meanwhile, the Thrill of the Grill competition will return to Arthur’s downtown area on Oct.. 12 and 13. It is an official Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event as well as the Illinois state BBQ contest.
In its short history, the event — now know as the Central Illinois Braggin’ Rights BBQ — attracts between 45 and 50 of the best BBQ teams from across the country. These teams will be vying for trophies and cash prizes in excess of $7,000.
This year’s “Thrill of the Grill” also includes other amateur divisions. For children, there is the “Kids Q”. Children under the age of 18 can compete and have fun cooking chicken wings.
And, keeping the bluegrass and BBQ tradition somewhat alive, organizers are still planning to have bluegrass coupled with this year’s event. But it will be stage entertainment only featuring regional bands.
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