Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ benefits Bridge Communities

Both amateur and seasoned barbecuers are taking their backyard talents to downtown Glen Ellyn in hopes of winning bragging rights and helping homeless families get back on their feet.

Glen Ellyn’s fifth Backyard BBQ Cook-Off runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, in the Glenwood Avenue lot in downtown Glen Ellyn. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, relax and hang out for the afternoon. For details, see glenellynbackyardbbq.com.

Sixty teams will take part in this year’s competition, vying for honors in the categories of Best Ribs, Best Dish, Best Homemade Sauce, plus a bonus People’s Choice Award to the competitor with the crowd’s favorite barbecue sauce. Best Ribs and Best Homemade Sauce will be judged by Kansas City BBQ Society-certified judges.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn declared the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off an official Illinois State Competition in May, a distinction that allows winners of the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off the opportunity to qualify for national contests, including Jack Daniels and American Royal in Kansas City.

While grilled and smoked meats will take the spotlight, there is much more to the event than just barbecue. Food vendors include Brand on the Run, Smokin’ Wills, Skuddlebutt’s, Tap House Grill and Husky Hog BBQ.

Glen Ellyn resident Tom Koprowski, co-founder of the Backyard BBQ, who goes by the name “Pig Daddy,” said, “This year’s music lineup is better than ever. We’ve got Amy Kelly with the Bill Ande Band and Cadillac Dave and His Chicago Red Hots, both returning this year, along with Fruteland Jackson and Dupont also performing. It’s our best lineup yet.”

Another competition takes place at the Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off: the bags tournament. In its third year, the Bags Tournament welcomes two-person teams for a double-elimination format competition that begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends with the final four at approximately 4 p.m.

Winners will be announced on the main stage along with the barbecue competition winners.

The minimum entry donation for the bags tournament is $30 per team, and registration will close after 32 entries are received. To enter the competition, participants must submit a form and a fee; applications for the contests and more information can be found at glenellynbackyardbbq.com.

“Everything that we do here funds and supports Bridge Communities’ mission, which is helping homeless families in DuPage County to transform their lives,” Koprowski said.

For details, email gebybbq@gmail.com.