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WORLAND — The 13th annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival has added a brewfest to its celebration.

The brewfest, a fundraiser for the festival, has been held on a Thursday in the past with success. After a break for a few years the festival committee brought the brewfest back two years ago, holding it on a Saturday separate from the festival but with limited success, according to festival director and event organizer Dave Paxton.

Paxton said the committee this year wanted to bring back the Brews and Ques Brewfest this year as part of the festival starting things off Thursday. They hope to make it an annual event on the Thursday of the festival

He said there are 10 microbreweries that will be competing, all expected to provide four different samples.

Those wishing to taste test the variety of beers can purchase a wristband for $20 for unlimited samples.

Teton Distributors and the Worland Senior Center are offering a safe ride home option for those wishing to partake in the brew and needing a ride home.

Live music will be provided by Rattlesnake Ridge. The event runs from 5-9 p.m. at the Washakie County Fairgrounds in Worland with the live music from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

There will be concessions with brats and pulled pork sandwiches and the Pepsi trailer for non-alcoholic drinks.

BBQ & BLUEGRASS

The 13th annual barbecue championship and bluegrass festival gets underway Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds with opening ceremonies that includes a welcome and national anthem by Rhea White.

The first of the three bands begin at 6 p.m. with music continuing until 10 p.m. Paxton said two of the groups have performed at the festival in previous years —FY5 and Railsplitters. New to the festival is Lockwood from Missoula, Montana.

Paxton said there will be six of the 25 barbecue teams providing food concessions Friday night and again on Saturday. He said any barbecue vendor must also be a competitor.

Saturday’s festivities begin with the annual 5k run at 7:30 a.m., followed by the pancake breakfast that is a fundraiser for the Worland High School cheerleaders.

The car show will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COMPETITION

The Kids Q (barbecue competition) begins at 9:30 a.m. where younger grilling chefs compete with cooking up burgers. Paxton said three judges will judge the burgers, including on taste and presentation, similar to how the meats are judged in the Kansas City Barbecue Society contest later in the day.

The first of six competitions will be judged at noon. Paxton said barbecue teams will be judged on brisket, chicken, pork, ribs, mystery meat and sauce.

Thirty certified KCBS judges from around the country will be judging the sanctioned barbecue competition.

Paxton said among the 25 teams are six from Worland — Chubby Cheeks, 3 Smokin’ Chicks, Red Arrow BBQ, Sochies and Rolling Hogs.

The festival committee brought back the People’s Choice after a year break, but reinvented the competition.

Sampling and judging will be from 2-3:30 p.m. Paxton said 14 of the 25 teams have signed up to participate and will have samples available. Festival goers can pay $20 to partake of all samples. They will be given one voting chip to vote for their favorite.

Awards will be presented at 4:15 p.m.

In addition to live music all day, there will also be plenty for children, Paxton said. The Wyoming National Guard is bringing up their obstacle course that is 140 feet long and 15 feet wide. There will also be facepainting and a dunking booth, all in the show arena area at the fairgrounds.

There will also be non-profit booths providing desserts and festival/fair food including cotton candy.

There will be a beer garden, and this year, thanks to suggestions from past festivals, Paxton said they will have wine concessions.

THE COMMITTEE

Paxton has been a member of the committee for five years. He said he first got involved when he and his “better half” Laurie Paulsen were asked to help out emptying trash and bringing in ice. He said they helped two years before becoming official members of the committee.

The committee, he said, is 15 members strong but they welcome all volunteers.

The committee, he said meets monthly on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Worland Community Center Complex. He said they will start planning the 14th annual festival at the September meeting.