Smokin' weekend: BBQ Bash fires up appetites for food, fun
By Mary Shapiro
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 12:15 PM CDT
The way to a crowd's heart is through it's stomach, and that was proven last weekend in Wildwood
A crowd estimated at up to 30,000 attended the St. Louis Home Fires sixth annual BBQ Bash, held Saturday and Sunday. The festival was held for the second year in Wildwood's Town Center area, said Frank Schmer, owner of St. Louis Home Fires in Ballwin and organizer of the event.
It's sanctioned by the St. Louis Barbeque Society, of which Schmer is president, and was open to both amateurs and professionals.
They competed for an overall grand champion prize - won by Smokin Joe and Sons - and grand prizes in categories including ribs, pork, chicken, brisket, pork steaks, dessert, chili and a chef's choice. The event also included prizes awarded for the "people's choice," won this year by PM BBQ.
"Last year, we had 125 booths, but this year we had 177, and attendance was way up from 2009, too," Schmer said.
The bash also featured a coloring contest for kids, sponsored by Electro Savings Credit Union.
Entries were on display from 36 young artists, who competed in age categories to win a $100 U.S. savings bond and a $100 gift certificate to Unique Game and Toy. People attending cast monetary votes on entries, which raised $125 (with Electro matching that amount) for Homes for Our Troops, a non-profit organization that assists severely injured service members by building accessible homes.
Also at the bash, a chicken wing eating contest was sponsored by Roadhouse 61 restaurant in Webster Groves, an Iron Chef competition was sponsored by PNC Bank, and a Subaru Challenge scavenger hunt around Town Center was sponsored by Dean Team Subaru.
"I started the event with seven teams, set out in front of my store, which sells barbecue grills, sauces, rubs and accessories. After the first couple years, we moved to Vlasis Park in Ballwin but we outgrew that," Schmer said.
Proceeds from the event benefitted the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Friends of Kids with Cancer, and 17 other charities.
Also as a part of the event, there was a best decorated booth contest, won by the Men R Pigs group, sponsored by Three French Hens store in Wildwood, and a raffle of prize packages by various teams.
"Foodies are the best people in the world, Wildwood has been a great partner," Schmer said.
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