WhistleStop BBQ Festival returns for 24th year

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Smoke is rising over Huntsville’s MidCity district, and the cooking fires are going to burn for the better part of Friday and Saturday.

WhistleStop returns as more than 50 barbecue teams compete for the weekend’s top prizes. The festival, established in 2001, has moved to several locations across the city. It is being hosted at MidCity for the second year.

The festival includes a live music lineup, more than 20 local vendors and a lot of barbecue. Gates are open until 11:00 p.m. Friday. They reopen at 11:00 on Saturday morning.

“We have about 55 cook teams that are participating in the competition,” said WhistleStop organizer Cody Morgan. “We are a KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition.”

Each team comes prepared with their own recipes and techniques, creating diverse flavor profiles.

“You’ve got to get everything just right and follow the competition rules and regulations, so it’s hectic but also fun,” said Brandon Duffey, a member of a barbecue team.

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Proceeds from the weekend will benefit EarlyWork’s Childrens Museum.

Tickets are available for purchase online .

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