By NICOLE LOGGINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Ladies and gentlemen, fire up your grills!

The 2nd Annual Shelby County’s Best BBQ Cook-off is March 30 in downtown Columbiana.

The barbecue cook-off will be an all-day event. Cooking teams will set up at 6 a.m. to begin their barbecue cooking rituals. The meat will be judged at 4:30 p.m. and the public is invited to participate in the tasting from 5-7 p.m. Barbecued Boston butts, ribs and many other treats will be available for sampling.

Meat will be judged in the following categories: best overall ribs and sauce; best ribs; best sauce; chef’s specialty; and the people’s choice award. Awards will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Awards will be presented to the top three winners in the best ribs and best sauce categories.

“We had about ten teams last year, so we were pleased,” said Stacy Walkup, executive director of the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

There will be live music and the Fences on Parade exhibit will be on display. There will also be a car show, as well as a popcorn machine, space bounce and face painting for kids.

Tasting tickets will cost $10 for adults. Admission for children under 10 is free with the admission of an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the Shelby County Arts Council, South Shelby Chamber and at the door. All proceeds benefit the SCAC and the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

“It brings out people who love to cook. It really gets into a heated competition,” Walkup said.

For more information on how to register to compete, contact Terri Sullivan at Terri@shelbycountyartscouncil.com or Stacy Walkup at soshelby@bellsouth.net.