Video: Tupelo Barbecue Duel Draws Large First Day Crowd

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The competition hadn’t officially started, but that didn’t stop the “Star Boars” team from serving lunch to friends and customers.

This team has taken part in the Tupelo Barbecue Duel since it began.

“Anything we can do to support the community and have fun, we love,” said Nat Grubbs, of “Star Boars.”

One hundred teams are signed up. Five of the top teams in the nation are competing. This year, there are two separate competitions on Saturday and Sunday. It all benefits the Link Centre.

“This raises operating capital for us, to help us fund our arts and social service programs we do, monthly music series, programs like the artists residency in schools we just finished last month,” said Melanie Deas, executive director of the Link Centre.

Along with barbecue, there is more of an emphasis on live entertainment.

Concerts run throughout the free event. There are vendors selling food and other items. It takes a volunteer team of 300 to make it all happen. Bobby Geno has worked in many areas over the past few barbecue duels.

“I’m a firm believer in the arts and I think we need to promote them as much as we possibly can and I enjoy working with the people and also making a contribution to keeping the arts alive in Tupelo,” Geno said.

The barbecue duel has a big impact on the area.

It’s a major quality of life event for downtown Tupelo and it’s legitimately on the map for the Kansas City barbecue competition,” said Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

“I’m just looking forward to getting a bunch of friends together and hanging out this weekend, a lot of times we’re always looking for something to do and this gives us something to do this weekend,” said Tupelo resident Mary Morgan Brown.

www.tupelobbqduel.com

The sixth annual “Tupelo Barbecue Duel” is taking place at Fairpark in downtown Tupelo.
One hundred teams from across the nation are competing.  This year, there are two competitions, one on Saturday and another on Sunday.The event has grown quickly over the past six years.  Along with barbecue, there is a full line up of entertainment.

“I mean what could go wrong, you got good music, good food, barbecue, and country music kind of go, been going hand in hand since probably all of us were born.”

And if you want to work off some of the barbecue, SNAP Fitness has a push up challenge.  The Tupelo Barbecue Duel is a fundraiser for the Link Centre.The event runs through Sunday .