Polk County’s Bar-B-Que Festival Season is Underway

Polk County residents – and visitors alike – are fortunate to have the 2012 barbeque festival season looming on the horizon. Celebrate mouthwatering barbeque with the return of annual sanctioned competitions such as the Lakeland PigFest, Smoke on the Water, and Ribs on the Ridge. And this year, a new entrant joins the field… the Southern Smokers BBQ Competition. All four events offer live entertainment and FREE admission. Come hungry, as many competing teams will be selling their savory fare for the public to enjoy.

The Southern Smokers BBQ Competition took place last Saturday, and the inaugural event was a success. Sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, over 25 teams competed in the event.

This weekend, Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th, Lakeland PigFest will celebrate its 16th year at the Tiger Town Sports Complex. Lakeland PigFest is the is the area’s largest barbeque competition. It is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event and the KCBS is the largest international organization of barbeque enthusiasts. Each year PigFest welcomes close to 200 teams to compete in the Pro Division, BackYard Division and the Kid’s Q competition and proceeds benefit Lakeland-area charities.

The 8th Annual Budweiser Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition returns to Winter Haven on Saturday, February 4th as the 2012 Florida BBQ Association State Championship. Funds raised benefit the Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs of Winter Haven, Lake Wales and Haines City. More than 80 teams from across the country will compete for the Florida State Grand Champion title. Unique entertainment includes a Cypress Water Sports Ski Show on beautiful Lake Cannon.

The 4th Annual Ribs on the Ridge takes place at Lake Eva Park in Haines City on Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th. This growing event has been the Florida BBQ Association’s largest competition for the past two years; with approximately 100 teams competing. Don’t miss performances by The Pork Chop Review featuring “Oink” the singing pig!

In October 2012, the festivals start over again with the Florida BBQ Association sanctioned Fine Swine at the Pit in Mulberry offering up more delicious barbeque to please your palette. Visit www.fineswine.org.

Polk County offers numerous barbeque restaurants so you won’t have to suffer withdrawal in the off-season. Historic eateries include Peebles Bar-B-Q, a Central Florida landmark that has been serving up barbeque for more than 55 years, and Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q, a Lakeland tradition since 1964. Brock’s Smoke Hut in Winter Haven was recognized in 2011 by National Barbecue News as one of the “Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurant’s in America.” Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and Woody’s Bar-B-Q are familiar names with locations all around Polk County. This list hardly scratches the surface. For a comprehensive listing of restaurants in Polk County, go to www.VisitCentralFlorida.org.