Florissant Residents Can Help Themselves to Some Great Barbecue

If you’ve got a hankering for some barbecue, then the North County Optimist Club has a special treat for Florissant residents.

The club will hosts its 6th annual Kick-Off Cook-Off BBQ Contest with more than 30 teams competing for a chance to win in several categories. It’s a two-day event at the , starting Friday.

Steve Medlock, a spokesperson for the event, said that the state championship cook-off is an annual fundraiser with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the group’s annual childhood cancer research campaign. The proceeds will go to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

Medlock said that it’s the first year for the event to be held at the Eagan Center, and it’s a good time for families.

It’s free to the public, and gives people a chance to sample barbecue from a number of vendors.

Friday, judges will be deciding the state championship rib contest with 10 rib-winning teams competing for the title of St. Louis’ Best Ribs. Saturday is all about the public tasters when people can sample barbecue and decide the People’s Choice Awards.