Florissant Barbecue Season Lifts Off with Throw Down

With warmer weather comes blooming flowers, spring festivals and an American staple – barbecue.

The Knights of Columbus will kick it off the inaugural Florissant Fraternal Fire and Barbecue Competition, this weekend, April 12-13.

The two-day event will feature a “wing ding” competition, a barbecue throw down, kickball and more. The event will benefit the Knights of Columbus, the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District, Florissant Police Department and the Men of St. Norbert’s.

Although the event will benefit a number of organizations, there’s a greater reason for the event, event coordinator Jim Zak said.

“It’s really about getting established and getting the community involved,” he said. “It’s about bringing awarenss to Florissant.”

Zak said the idea sprouted from a conversation with the Knights of Columbus in Valley Park and grew from there.

Eighteen teams had registered to participate in the barbecue throwdown for Saturday, where teams will be judged on chicken, ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket. The St. Louis Barbecue Society has sanctioned the event. Teams will be judged, and the public will have an opportunity to purchase barbecue from a few of the vendors, Zak said.

The event officially kicks off Friday when most of the teams will cook wings and allow the public to vote on their favorite. That section of the event costs $15 and includes the wings, two drink tickets and a ticket to vote for your favorite.

The day gets started early Saturday with a breakfast buffet, starting at 6:30 a.m. the cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children between the ages of five and 12.

The barbecue throwdown between the Florissant Police Department and Florissant Valley Protection District tasting happens at noon, and the actual barbecue competition will be going on all day.

Registration for other interested teams will be open until Friday morning, Zak said.

For more information, check out the Knights of Columbus website or the event’s Facebook page.