Vine Street BBQ Fest to return to Park Ridge on Saturday; $18,000 already raised for charity

The Vine Street Barbecue Competition and Festival is set to return to Uptown Park Ridge on Sept. 16. Proceeds from the festival will go to three local charities.

This year’s competition will be comprised of 40 amateur teams with about four people on each team, said Jamie Rubin, event coordinator and co-founder. The competition is part of the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), and five of the teams are ranked nationally for best chicken and ribs.

Teams will compete for best chicken, best pork ribs, best dish and best sauce.

Rubin said teams are only allowed to cook their food on the street the morning of the competition with natural heat sources like charcoal and wood, barring electric and gas devices from the competition.

For those who are not cooking but want to enjoy the atmosphere, all are welcome at a festival with musical acts, to take place from noon to 10 p.m. in and around Hodges Park, in front of Park Ridge City Hall at 505 Butler Place, Park Ridge.

Entrance to the festival area is free for guests, but tasting what the teams make is a privilege only for the 30 to 40 judges provided by KCBS, said Rubin. Six area restaurants and pop-ups will feed the expected crowd.

This year’s charities include the Cancer Survivorship Center of Advocate Lutheran General, Avenues to Independence and The Maine Township Food Pantry. According to Rubin, sponsors and teams have already raised $18,000, and more funds are expected to be raised on the day of the festival. Last year’s competition raised $42,000.

Entertainment at the festival will kick off with local dance and music acts. Winners of the barbecue competition will be announced around 6:30 p.m.