— Excitement is building as we get closer to the “Smokin' the Fort BBQ and Bluegrass Festival,” scheduled for Oct. 28-29 in downtown Fort Gibson.

This event, which is in its third year, joins the professional BBQ’ers sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, big dollar pay outs and local BBQ’ers who are preparing their barbecue delights, trying to win the pleasure of the crowd in the “Taster's Choice” competition.  

Other food and merchandise vendors will be lined up and down the street to round out your shopping and taste bud pleasures.

The chamber will also be selling official T-shirts, aprons and drinks to help wash the great barbecue down and make the day memorable.

This year's bands include Spring Street, Common Tyme, Majerus Family and River's Edge (Friday evening).

Also throughout Saturday, various family contests will be taking place.

At noon, we will feature the “Fastest Recliner in the West” race. Anyone can enter — all you need is a recliner on four wheels, one rider and one pusher.

The race will take place on South Lee Street beginning at the Poplar Street intersection, and heading toward the Fort Gibson State Bank. There is a special prize for the winner.

At 1 p.m., we will feature the pie eating contest for all ages. At 2 p.m. is the costume contest for all ages and pets (dogs and cats only).

The pet portion of the contest is sponsored by Dandy Dog Grooming of Fort Gibson. At 3 p.m., we will start with the barbecue awards. There are still vendor spots available ($25), and you can still enter the actual cooking contests. The action actually gets kicked off on Friday evening with a “Meet the Cooks” party and KCBS contests in the form of “Anything Goes” cooking competition and “Kids Que,” which features kids showing off their cooking expertise.

The festivities will start around 6 p.m. and go on until around 11 p.m., all in downtown Fort Gibson.

For all the churches, civic organizations, and athletic booster clubs and organizations, Friday evening you are invited to set up a booth, free of charge, for whatever fund-raising effort you would like to promote.

Just show up with your booth/table and items you want to sell or give away to promote your cause.

The event has been declared “Smokin' the Fort Day,” by Gov. Mary Fallin and the cook-off is recognized as a KCBS State Championship event. Don't miss it.