6 days ago
Fourth annual WV Coalfields Cookoff begins in Welch
welch — The fourth annual West Virginia Coalfields Cookoff got underway Friday in Welch and continues today.
The two-day competition features food, food trucks, street vendors, games for kids and the cooking competition.
Most of the activities are being held in the area of the Martha Moore Park in downtown Welch.
Welch Mayor Harold McBride said the annual event provides family-friendly fun and good food.
'We are bringing in the cookers right now,' McBride said Friday afternoon. 'I think we are going to have 25 pro teams. We've got McDowell Street closed right now.'
McBride said bands would perform Friday evening, and the cooking would continue throughout the day.
'We've got the bands coming in,' McBride said. 'So it's getting kicked off. These guys cook real good. Then it is judged tomorrow.'
Sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society for pro and backyard BBQ Cook Teams, the event has become a tradition in the city.
McBride said officials hope to keep it going for many more years.
'We want to build upon it each year,' McBride said. 'We've got more vendors. We are excited with it.'
The summer cooking competition also provides two-days of fun activities for local residents of McDowell County, according to McBride.
The full schedule is online at
The Coalfields Cookoff is free and open to the public.
Contact Charles Owens at
cowens@
