Where There’s Smoke, There’s Carnival
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Chamber Report
By Jessie Gurner
There are certain smells that let you know the Watermelon Carnival is here. Fresh watermelon is one of them. Funnel cakes are another. But when the smoke starts drifting from the barbecue pits near City Park, folks know the Train Tracks Pork Attack is officially back in town.
The Train Tracks Pork Attack Barbecue Cooking Contest will return for its 16th year during the Watermelon Carnival, bringing seasoned competition teams, local backyard cooks, and plenty of hometown flavor to one of Water Valley’s favorite weekends of the year.
The contest has become a favorite Carnival tradition and is recognized as a Memphis Barbecue Network-sanctioned event. That means serious barbecue teams will once again be competing in the professional division, with categories including whole hog, pulled pork, and pork ribs.
But the Pork Attack is not just for the big rigs and professional teams.
This year marks the second year for the Patio Division, created for local cooks who may not travel the barbecue circuit but know exactly what they are doing when they fire up the smoker in the backyard, driveway, or on the patio.
If your ribs have ever had the neighbors wandering over to the fence, or if your pulled pork has become the thing people request at every family gathering, the Patio Division may be calling your name.
Patio teams may compete in pork ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket. Teams must enter at least two categories to reserve a cooking site, and cooks who want a chance at Patio Grand Champion must enter all three. Entry fees are $75 per category, or $225 for all three.
The Patio Grand Champion will receive $500, along with the kind of bragging rights that tend to last long after the trophies are handed out. Cash prizes will also be awarded in each Patio category, with $250 for first place, $150 for second, $100 for third, $75 for fourth, and $50 for fifth.
The contest will also feature several favorite specialty categories, including poultry, best dessert, best sauce, best side dish, and best anything watermelon. These categories are open to both professional and Patio competitors, and no grill is required. Entries may be prepared at home and dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce tent behind Renasant Bank.
The entry fee for specialty categories is $25 per dish, and participants may enter as many dishes as they like. All ages are welcome, making this a good opportunity for young cooks, family recipes, and anyone who has been waiting for a reason to show off that one dish everybody talks about.
One of the crowd favorites will also return with Taster’s Choice. This category gives spectators a chance to sample entries and vote for their favorite. For barbecue fans, it is one of the best bargains of Carnival weekend. For cooking teams, it is a chance to win over the people who know exactly what they like.
The Train Tracks Pork Attack is more than a cooking contest. It is part of what makes Watermelon Carnival feel like Watermelon Carnival. It brings together the professional teams who take barbecue seriously, the hometown cooks who have been feeding friends and family for years, and the spectators who are more than happy to do their part by sampling the results.
The deadline to enter is Friday, July 24, at noon.
