Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash

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Sonza Bullard watches as Mustafa Shaeazz puts an order together from their booth Taste and Tell Saturday. April 29 at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash.   (April 19, 2014) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by  Rachel S. O'Hara)

Sonza Bullard watches as Mustafa Shaeazz puts an order together from their booth Taste and Tell at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash. (STAFF PHOTO/RACHEL S. O'HARA)

When the Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash began in 2010, it was a welcome addition to our area's slate of charity events, combining competitive professional barbecue pitmasters with bluegrass acts from around the country, all to benefit a group of charities focused on children. Casual and fun,, the event drew a few thousand people.

Big Papa's Country Kitchen had many of their awards on display at their food truck Saturday. April 29 at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash.    (April 19, 2014) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by  Rachel S. O'Hara)

(STAFF PHOTO/RACHEL S. O'HARA)

Each year since it debuted, the Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash has grown, attracting more pitmasters, adding more events, increasing the quality of the bluegrass bands and drawing increasing numbers of folks interested in the music, food and fun at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds. Now, the barbecue contest is recognized as one of the marquee events on the competitive Florida circuit and close to 15,000 are expected to turn out for the main event on Saturday.

Read Vicki Dean's rundown of the bands and her interviews with some of the artists and you can see why those are a draw, but many will be turning out for the opportunity to sample food from some of the best meat smokers around, attracted to the event by the $20,000 in prize money and an invitation to the World Food Championships and Sonny's Smokin' Showdown for the winner, as well as qualifying spots for The Jack Daniels  and the American Royal World Championships. There will be close to sixty team competing with chicken, ribs, pork and brisket and bbq fans will be able to buy samples from many of the pitmasters.

Less professional, but no less tasty, the Chili For Charity contest brings together teams from around the area to compete for $1,000 in prizes and a spot at the Terlingua International Chili Championship and the World Food Championship. $5 gets you a ticket to sample a chili and vote for your favorite.

Children race one another in a sack race Saturday. April 29 at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash.   (April 19, 2014) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by  Rachel S. O'Hara)

Children race one another in a sack race at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash. (STAFF PHOTO/RACHEL S. O'HARA)

There's also an area where kids can have some fun with games and crafts, with special visits by the Shriner clowns, dogs and face painting.

If you want more than just a single day for music and barbecue, there are several events prior to the big Saturday shindig, including an opportunity to meet the pitmasters on Thursday night at Snook Haven, a sporting clay shoot at Sarasota Gun Club on Friday, and a Friday night kick-off party on-site at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds featuring hot-air balloon rides, a fish-fry and Venice-area bluegrass band Swinging Bridge.

At this year's Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash, you'll have plenty of opportunities to eat, drink and listen to great music, all for a great cause.

SUNCOAST BBQ & BLUEGRASS BASH
April 14-16
Venice Airport; 610 Airport Ave. E., Venice
suncoastbbqbash.com

THURSDAY
Meet The Champions Party
Meet the pitmasters who will be smoking on Saturday, enjoy a buffet of Southern food and hear live entertainment by The Shames.
5 p.m.; Snook Haven, 5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice; $25

FRIDAY
Sporting Clays Fun Shoot
For seasoned shooters and beginners (no experience necessary). Includes raffle and BBQ lunch.
11 a.m.; Sarasota Gun Club, Knights Trail Park, 3445 Rustic Road, Nokomis; $100 (gun rental $10)

Ken Terpin enjoys his roasted corn on the cob Saturday. April 29 at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash.   (April 19, 2014) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by  Rachel S. O'Hara)

Ken Terpin enjoys his roasted corn on the cob at the Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Bash. (STAFF PHOTO/RACHEL S. O'HARA)

Kick-Off Party
Includes a fish-fry dinner buffet, beer, live entertainment, cornhole tournament and a sneak peek behind the scenes of Saturday's event. There will also be hot air balloon rides available (weather permitting).
5 p.m.; Venice Airport

SATURDAY
Gates open at 10 a.m.
Food Schedule:
11 a.m.: Professional BBQ - public tasting
11 a.m.: Professional BBQ - judging
11 a.m.: Chili  For Charity public tasting (sample tickets are $5 each)
Noon: Chili For Charity - judging
Music Schedule:
Noon: Flatt Lonesome
1:15 p.m.: The Grascals
2:30 p.m.: The Boxcars
4 p.m.: An Appalachian Jam
4:30 p.m.: Tribute To Our Friends
Other Events:
11 a.m.: Cornhole Tournament ($1,000 cash purse)
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Canine Friends (Kid's Park)
Noon-3 p.m.: Face Painting (Kid's Park)
1-3 p.m.: Shriner Clowns (Kid's Park)
5 p.m.: Awards Presentation - Chili For Charity
5:30 p.m.: Awards Presentation - Professional BBQ

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Brian Ries

Brian Ries is the editor of ticketsarasota.com.
Last modified: April 20, 2016
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