By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The Shelby Iron Park’s Car Show and BBQ Cook-off will be Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by the Historic Shelby Association, the free annual spring festival raises needed funds to support the Shelby Iron Works Park.

The car show will feature antique, vintage, muscle and one-of-a-kind cars. Cars are wanted and needed to enter the show.

Admission fee is $20 per car and registration begins at 9 a.m.

Plaques will be given out for the top five at 2 p.m.

For information on entering the car show, contact Tim Brasher at (205) 669-6856.

“All master grillers (and ‘would be’ grillers) and BBQ chefs!” states the festival flyer. “Here is your chance to prove your prowess at producing ‘lip smacking good’ prize winning BBQ and win some money at the same time!”

Barbecue contestants please contact David Matzke at (205) 777-1098 for details of entering or look for application on the website, Shelbyironworks.com.

Barbecue contestants can start cooking at 6 a.m. The public can purchase a wristband for $10, which enables you to a barbecue sandwich, sample barbecue wares and vote for best barbecue.

Lunch can be purchased for $6 in the restaurant area with barbecue, hot dogs and hamburgers, but no barbecue sampling or voting privileges.

The barbecue prizes consist of 70 percent of entry fee funds and will be split into eight awards.

The Last Chance Bank will play music all day as you view the ironworks museum, see the vintage sawmill and watch the blacksmiths at work.

There will also be a 50/50 drawing, money tree and door prizes.

Swap Meet vendors are welcome to meet and swap! All vendors will set up at the blacksmith building.

The Shelby Iron Park is located at 10268 Highway 42 in Shelby.

The Shelby Historical Association, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1989 to preserve the iron works that was in operation before the Civil War.

There are many permanent displays as well as working syrup mill, grist mill and blacksmith shop.

The monthly pancake breakfast every first Saturday, spring and fall festival raise much needed funds for the park’s upkeep.

For membership information, see Shelbyironworks.com.