By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The heart of Columbiana will turn into a food feast and music festival on Saturday, July 18 in the parking lot and land behind Davis Drug on East College and Mildred streets.

The Second Annual Shelby County Shindig is a barbecue cook-off and music festival that raises much-needed funds for the Shelby County Arts Council and South Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

Come spend the day listening to great music, having a drink – adult or soft – at Bernie’s “Beverage Garden,” and tasting some delicious barbecue cooked onsite and judged by Van Sykes of Bob Sykes BBQ!

Music is free, but tasting takes a ticket, and proceeds go to great causes – SCAC and South Chamber scholarships!

Wear your shorts and hat; bring your chair, but no coolers.

Music ranges from country to rock and everything in between.

Park at the courthouse and ride the trolley to the gate free!

There will be food vendors, specialty businesses and artists selling their wears onsite. Windcreek Hospitability “Food to Go” catering truck will be there with 100-percent of the proceeds donated to the SCAC and South Chamber.

The “Beverage Garden” will have specials all day from a beer to a coke.

Johnny Ray’s will offer $1 refills of their famous sweet tea in a Shindig Special Cup for $10.

Teams will compete for trophies: Best Ribs, Best Sauce, Chef’s Choice and People’s Choice.

Title sponsors are Weichert Realtors/Lowe Realty and DeLoach, Barber and Caspers, P.C. Other sponsors include Bob Sykes BBQ, Henderson Williams, Johnny Ray’s BBQ, Bernie’s on Main, Brown Lumber, Piggly Wiggly, Industrial Staffing, Golden Flake, A.C. Legg, Jack’s Shelby County Reporter, Sysco, 4Design, Books-A-Million, Regions Bank, Lewis Lake Vineyards, Owen Arts, The City of Columbiana, APH Radio, and Windcreek Hospitalities.

For more information, see Shelbycountyshindig.com.

 

Shindig schedule:

-5 a.m. – Barbecue teams set up

-8 a.m. – Barbecue teams check in

-1 p.m. – Gates open to the public and live music begins

Emcees: Comedienne Joy “The Queen of Clean” and Gene Rowley from APH Radio:

-1-1:45 p.m. – Music: Barbara Snyder Duo

-2-2:45 p.m. – Music: Cory Tucker

-2:30-3:30 p.m. John Scalici’s Drum Circle (join in, public invited!)

-3:30-4:15 p.m. – Music: Raquel Lily

-3 p.m. – Barbecue judging begins

-4 p.m. – Barbecue tasting begins ($10 ticket in advance; $15 day of event, you must have ticket to taste!)

-4:30-5:15 p.m. – Music: Hope Cassidy

-5:30 p.m. – Public tasting ends

-5:30-6:30 p.m. – Music: Rosewood

-6:30 p.m. – Barbecue winners announces

-7 p.m. – Event ends and home to bed and the A/C