BELLE GLADE – Hungry for barbecue?

The 2024 Torry Island BBQ Festival is planned for March 2 at Torry Island.

The event will feature a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)  Showdown!

Top-rated KCBS teams from the U.S. will prepare chicken, ribs, pork and brisket for judging. The festival will also feature a Backyard BBQ Showdown and Sauce competition.

There will also be an airboat show with awards in each division, Cornhole tournaments and Volleyball tournaments as well as arts and crafts booths, other food booths and family activities.

Admission is $10 per person, with children under age 10 admitted free. Parking is included with admission,

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Glades Historical Society, a non-profit organization based in Belle Glade, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of the Glades area. Founded in 1979 by a group of residents who recognized the importance of preserving the area’s unique history and heritage, the Glades Historical Society is responsible for the day-to-day operations and preservation of the Lawrence E. Will Museum.

Festival organizers hope to bring people to the Glades and promote tourism while supporting a great cause.

KCBS representatives will be present at the festival. Judging will use the blind judging technique. All four categories are required for Grand Champion prizes. Only one entry per team is allowed. The showdown prize purse is over $18,000! The competition will be governed by KCBS rules. For details, go online to tibbqshowdown.com.

On the day of the festival, the schedule will be:

• 9 a.m. Gates open,
• 9 a.m. Volleyball tournament starts,
• 10 a.m. Airboat show starts,
• 11 a.m. Cornhole tournament starts,
• Noon – Turn in time for chicken,
• 12:30 p.m. Turn in time for ribs,
• 1 p.m. Turn in time for pork,
• 1:30 p.m. Turn in time for brisket,
• 2 p.m. Turn in time for sauce.
• 4 p.m. Airboat awards,
• 5 p.m. BBQ Awards
• 6 p.m. Concert by Kelsey Hart, BombShell and the Jutt Huffman Band.

Torry Island, 5000 W. Canal Street, Belle Glade, is on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee. The island has a campground, floating  docks and a pavilion.

Diamond Level festival sponsors are H.E. Hill Foundation, Turfpro Services, the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce, Pioneer Growers, K&S Sod and Otherland Society. Bank of Belle Glade is a Gold Level sponsor. Silver Level sponsors include Frierson Farms, Big Lake Planting, Extreme Machine Corp, TKM Bengard Farms and Alderman Farms.

For vendor applications and more information go online to tibbqshowdown.com.