Community Corner

Kirkwood Spring Fling Gives Barbecue Chefs a Chance to Showcase Skills

The Blue Ribbon BBQ Cook Off has more than $350 in cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights.

KIRKWOOD — Get ready to be "meat drunk."

This year's Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes will offer a special treat to barbecue lovers and those who can take a slab of pork or chicken and transform it into savory dishes.

The Blue Ribbon BBQ Cook Off, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday May 11, is part of a weekend of Spring Fling events. Now in its 11th year, the Spring Fling is dedicated to celebrating all things Kirkwood and raising money to fund the Kirkwood Neighbors' Organization's initiatives for the community.

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The cook-off itself, the brainchild of Christian Enterkin, has more than $350 in prizes.

Enterkin said barbecue is an Atlanta favorite and a festival is the perfect venue for aficionados to showcase their skills.

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As she explained to East Atlanta Patch:

"Basically, I love Kirkwood and I love barbecue and I don't think I'm the only one. In the city of Atlanta, we have several festivals which reminds us every year it's spring. None incorporate barbecue and this city loves it. In Atlanta, we all have our favorite barbecue restaurant and we all know which one in our circle of friends we enjoy eating their backyard barbecue the most.

"Last year, I volunteered for the Kirkwood Spring Fling Tour of Homes which is a great experience that I highly recommend. However, I noticed there was to a certain degree a lack of diversity. I'm hoping barbecue can better bring all neighbors together and show off our wonderful community to visitors. I have to thank our Spring Fling Festival president, Geoff Mueller, who allowed me to run with this idea. And a major thank you to Christopher Case who has also tremendously helped put this cook-off contest together."

Here are the entry details:

  • Two Categories – Chicken and Pulled Pork.
  • Entry Fees: $35 for one meat, $50 for two meats.
  • All meats must be cooked off site and brought to barbecue area for warming. Each table must have a chafing dish for heating. One can be sold on site if needed.
  • No grills, no charcoal on site, no fire on site.
  • E-mail Christian Enterkin for application and to pay fees: blueribbonbbqatl@gmail.com.

As for the entire weekend of Spring Fling events:

  • 5K Road Race
    • Saturday, May 11th, 2013 
    • Starts at 8 am
  • Festival
    • Saturday, May 11th, 2013
    • 10am until 8pm 
  • Live Music
    • Saturday, May 11th, 2013
    • Festival 11am-8pm
    • Downtown Kirkwood 8pm -11pm (2 blocks from festival)
  • Tour of Homes
    • Saturday, May 11th, 2013
    • Sunday, May 12th, 2013
    • 12pm until 6pm
  • Location
    • Bessie Branham Park, 2051 Delano Drive NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30317


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