38th annual Praise the Lard cook-off set for Sept. 18-20

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (KFVS) – The 38th annual Praise the Lard Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off will be September 18-20.

Organizers say 17th Street Barbecue will also be celebrating its 40th anniversary year.

“What started out as Mike Mills’s vision to drive commerce and bring people to Murphysboro has grown into something beyond our wildest dreams,” Amy Mills, owner of 17th Street Barbecue, said in a news release. “As we celebrate four decades of being part of this incredible region and nearly four decades of the Cook-Off, I’m reminded that the best traditions are the ones that keep evolving while remaining true to their roots.”

The weekend competition will feature judges from more than 20 states, Canada and, for the first time, Costa Rica, as well as a judge from Switzerland.

They say more than half of the registered teams are new to the event.

The competition begins Thursday evening, Sept. 18 with the fish and wings contests and a ticketed fish fry meal open to the public.

The Grand Champion competition starts Friday with the Murphysboro High School’s Crimson Express Marching Band’s annual parade through the center of the competition grounds.

The Friday night Grand Champion Meal and Fish Fry is $30 per person and open to the public.

Organizers say live music from Pity Thy Neighbors, followed by headliners Lucas Wayne and The Cotton Mouths, is also free and open to the public.

Saturday’s competition starts at 10 a.m. with the Budweiser Luck Beer Toast and barbecue competition turn-ins.

According to organizers, the Doubleheader Steak Cook-Off will take place over Friday and Saturday.