For the fifth time in event history, the Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rally will grace Yelm City Park with its wonderful aroma, delicious smoked meats and an opportunity for community-building and bonding.
Set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 26, the fifth annual Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rally will include a day full of various competitions and an abundance of food through a variety of food truck vendors.
Dan and Shelley Nicholson, Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rally event organizers, work all year in preparation of hosting the annual event. They believe that camaraderie is formed through competition. As such, they will present several culinary cookoffs for community members to participate in, such as the “Amateur Andy” and “Youth Burger Challenge” competitions.
“It’s the best event in Yelm,” Dan said. “We’re really excited about the competitions that we have going this year. We have the Amateur Andy barbecue competition, where people set up Friday night and smoke their food all night long. We have certified barbecue judges who will be judging the food. That will be great. We also have the Youth Burger Challenge. We still have room and spots available in both events for people to sign up.”
Before any of the barbecue fun can begin, the Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rally will host a “Beer Garden Pre-Funk” event from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 25, with a lineup of fun activities and performances for community members, aged 21-and-older, to enjoy. Beer, cider and wine will be on sale, along with food from The Grill at 507.
From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 25, The Strays will take the “Centennial Stage” for a two-hour performance at Yelm City Park. Following the performance, trivia and games will be hosted from 7 to 9 p.m. with a plethora of prizes to be handed out.
Then, on Saturday, July 26, the “Amateur Andy” competition welcomes the best amateur pitmasters in the Nisqually Valley region to put their skills to the test against one another. For $50, competitors will compete for bragging rights in several different categories of meat, including: beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken and pork shoulder. All meat must be cooked on site, and competitors will have the opportunity to set up their 10-foot by 10-foot space and begin smoking on Friday, July 25.
Check-in for competitors is permitted on Friday, July 25, between 3 and 7 p.m., or on the day of the event at 6 a.m. Competitors must arrive no later than 9 a.m. and attend the cooks meeting at 10:05 a.m.
Participants are not permitted to sell or distribute food to attendees of the Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rally, and the meat can only be provided to Amateur Andy food judges through competition entry. Competitors not conforming to rules will be required to leave the event immediately.
