Cookers love Kings of Q festival

AYDEN — The threat of rainy conditions did not dampen the Kings of Q Festival and barbecue cookoff last weekend and participants said they enjoyed the hospitality shown to them by the town.

This is the seventh year that Ayden has hosted the festival, and committee member Michael Letchworth said organizers this year integrated a whole hog competition with the Kansas City Barbecue Society cookoff.

Contestants in the KCBS-sanctioned event cook brisket, chicken, pork and pork ribs. Organizers wanted to add a whole hog component since the town is so well-known for whole hog barbecue, Letchworth said.

“There’s never been a component of our festival that allows our community and people attending it to eat the BBQ from the event,” he said, “and this year the whole hog portion allowed us to take the pigs that the competitors cooked, process it, chop it, and serve it with two sides and bread, or by the pound for the community to come out and buy, and the proceeds of that will help support the festival itself,” said Letchworth.

There were 18 competitors this year for the two-day event that kicked off on May 17 with a community dinner at Skylight Inn at 5:30 p.m. followed by a welcome party at the Ayden Community Building from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

A few teams came to the welcome party to fellowship over refreshments, get a first look at the trophies and awards on display, and share a little bit about their teams.

David Murray with Fired Up BBQ of Snow Hill said his team competes on the North Carolina Pork Council circuit. They cook whole hog and participate in about 20 competitions a year, mostly in the spring and the fall.

“I’m here to support such a great event so close to home,’” Murray said. “I’ve come over here and watched some of the KCBS guys a couple times over the years, but this is my first time competing because of their first whole hog competition.”

Toby Turner with Chock Full of BBQ from Como said it was his team’s sixth year cooking on the Kansas City BBQ Society side of the competition in Ayden. They participate in about five competitions a year.

“We try to keep our travel time within two hours of where we live, and we do it for fun,” said Turner. “It’s a good contest here that’s easy; it’s one of our favorite ones to come to.”

Kevin Peterson with Showtimes Legit BBQ of Benson said that Ayden has gone above and beyond for competitors. Organizers give back to the cooks and make you want to be in town, he said.

“They’ve been very great to us hosting events like this welcome party, and you don’t get this kind of treatment at other competitions,” said Peterson. “The communities that want you to come to their towns appreciate you being here, and it means a lot to the cooks and makes you want to come back.”

Visitors on May 18 could tour the Barbecue Village were teams set up and did their cooking and grab some chopped barbecue and other refreshments and entertainment on West Avenue. The event also featured an artisan market, exhibits at the Ayden Museum, beer gardens award ceremonies and music at the main stage with Chairmen of the Board.

While the threat of bad weather kept some vendors away, Kings of Q committee member Sarah Coltrain said that a good crowd came to West Avenue and that it was a lot of fun, great music, good BBQ, good fellowship and good people.