— By Chesley  Oxendine

Times Correspondent

Smoke and song filled the air during Fort Gibson's “3rd annual Smokin' The Fort BBQ Cookoff and Bluegrass Festival” kickoff held downtown Friday night.

Nearly 500 people gathered in the street to enjoy a cool fall evening, some barbecue, and country music provided by the band River's Edge.

The event was the first night of the larger, two-day event. Participants gathered along sidewalks under canopies and next to trailers, gearing up for Saturday's competition.

Because “Smokin' The Fort” is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the contestants were a mix of KCBS hopefuls alongside local churches and cooks vying for the Fort Gibson “Taster's Choice” title on Saturday.

Susie Stoneburner brought her mother Sammy Locust out to help set up their booth.

Stoneburner said she especially enjoyed the sense of community during Friday's festivities.

 “I love seeing the town get together,” she said.

Stoneburner often participates in cookoffs nearby in Muskogee, but this one was “just for me,” she said.

Her favorite part of the evening was seeing Johnny Trigg, of The Learning Channel's show “BBQ Pitmasters,” among the crowd.

“I was like 'oh my gosh, this is the grandfather of barbeque,'” Stoneburner said.

Locust said she loved the excitement in the air.

“This event always gets bigger and better,” she said. “Everybody seems to be having a good time.”

While Armstrong Bank was on hand to feed visitors free barbecue, several vendors sold more varied fare.

Zbigniew Niebieszczanski, who runs Fort Gibson's Autur Bookbinding, said he and his wife Bozena appreciated the Mexican food.

“These tortillias are fantastic,” Niebieszczanski said.

Bozena promptly informed him he was enjoying a tamale.

The event even drew people from nearby Muskogee, such as husband and wife Ralph and Carol May.

Carol said the couple attended the event every year.

“This is our third time out. Some friends in Fort Gibson invited us,” May said. “It's really growing.”

Ralph May said the music, which included songs like “Cowgirls Don't Cry” and a spirited rendition of “Devil Went Down To Georgia,” was the evening's high point.

“They're playing really great,” he said.

Event staff member Brad Clinkenbeard, who helped found “Smokin' the Fort,” said the evening was an example of Fort Gibson's community and atmosphere.

“Everybody has a positive outlook,” he said. “We're a close-knit community that supports our own.”

Clinkenbeard said that same sense of kinship drew KCBS cooks to the event, which has grown steadily since its 2009 inception.

“It's extremely fun for the cooks,” said Clinkenbeard. “They really like the small-town friendliness.”