Rain couldn’t keep barbecue lovers away at this weekend’s Que on the Yazoo.
Early Saturday morning, 13 runners from all across Mississippi chugged beer and raced down Grand Boulevard, from the Keesler Bridge to the Tallahatchie Bridge, for the second annual Beer Run.
“Runners run in the rain. They don’t care,” said Tish Goodman, a Que on the Yazoo volunteer.
Each participant had to drink the full beer and drop it on the ground before taking off for the 2-mile run.
Friends Myranda Warren of Madison and Angela Byrd said the rain didn’t bother them one bit. Although the two did a mixture of walking and running, they finished strong.
“We crossed together holding hands, and we were not last,” said Warren, who finished third.
Cyndi Saia won the women’s category, and Michael Lamb placed first in the men’s.
“I thought it was a great way to pull some runners, some non-runners, just people who wanted to come and have fun on Saturday,” Saia said.
She said, “It’s just about having fun and enjoying local events in the community.”
The fifth annual Que on the Yazoo had the largest group at 41 of pro and patio barbecue cooking competitors.
The cooking teams competed in the non-pork categories, including sauce and beans, a Cathead vodka cocktail contest, a Webster’s catfish contest and chicken.
Ben Hargett of the Greenwood team New Pigs on the Block said Friday the competition was bigger this year.
“There are more pro teams than patio this year, but it’s still a stiff competition — the entire group,” he said.
On Friday, Hargett and his team were preparing for not only that night’s competition but Saturday’s, too.
“We feel good. We are happy with everything we cooked,” he said.
He planned to cook, socialize and maybe get a little sleep.
“We cook in this contest every year. It’s a great community event that we love taking part in and enjoy the camaraderie and the competition,” Hargett said.
Teams were feeling the competitive spirit Friday night.
Fraiser Smith and Wade Evans of the Greenwood team Beer BQ said on Friday they were confident about their dishes. It was Evans’ first year, but Smith has been competing in barbecue contests since he was 13, he said.
“It’s my hometown. I always cook,” he said.
On Saturday, the cooking teams competed in categories including championship whole hog, championship and patio pulled pork, People’s Choice, championship and patio ribs, and championship and patio pork loin.
Although it rained Friday evening and a little into Saturday, the crowds kept coming.
“Before it started raining last night we had over 1,000. So we probably had just as many in and out today,” said Brantley Snipes, executive director of Main Street Greenwood, on Saturday. “I would say anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 throughout the weekend.”
Only minor changes were made because of the weather. For example, the Bloody Mary bar and the People’s Choice were moved to the Viking Training Center, and some events such as the Pet Pawrade and whole hog motorcycle ride and show were canceled.
“We had a little hiccup with the rain, but we worked through it. We just kind of had to wait and see what was going to happen. It was a solid event. Everybody was happy. Everything was smooth sailing.”
Snipes said the Bloody Mary bar’s first year was a huge success and went through nine gallons of Bloody Mary mix.
There were more than 20 different toppings to choose from including cheese straws, shrimp, olives, pickled asparagus, bacon and cheese cubes.
Another newly added event this year, the Sonic burger-eating contest on Saturday, was also a success.
Seven contestants competed in that contest, and Beth Barnes won.
“All in all, great event,” Snipes said. “We represented Greenwood well. Nothing but compliments from everybody on the downtown and the community.”
•Contact Lauren Randall at 581-7239 or lrandall@gwcommonwealth.com.
