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VIDALIA, La. — This weekend marks the Vidalia Police Department’s annual Back the Blue Open Car Show and Barbeque Cook-off.

Festivities take place at the Riverview RV Park in Vidalia starting with a private party for the competing barbeque teams and judges on Friday night, Oct. 25, where Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser will serve as an honored guest. The public fun begins on Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 8 a.m. and lasts into the afternoon.

The cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, so cooks will be competing for a state championship title to be eligible to compete at a national level.

Ann Goeggle, an organizer of the barbecue cook-off, said the sport of barbecuing has always been close to her heart.

“My father (the late Pete Westmorland) used to compete in barbecue competitions when I was growing up,” she said. “His team name was always Pete’s Divine Swine.”

Goeggle remembers fondly the Jim Bowie Barbeque Throwdown that was once a popular event in Vidalia, she said. Vidalia Police Department asked her to help organize the Back the Blue Barbeque to support a good cause, Shop with a Cop, where children in need are taken on a shopping spree for Christmas toys, clothing and essential items.

“It’s for an amazing cause and I’m happy to support them,” Goeggle said. “It is so good for the community and brings people in from all over.”

VPD organizer Tiffany Simpson said the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cookoff would bring in 31 teams from five states, including local teams from Louisiana and Mississippi and some from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas as well as a group of certified judges.

“If they win, they can advance to nationals,” Goeggle said, adding Kansas City Barbeque Society founder Carolyn Wells will also be in Vidalia for the first time as part of the festivities.

“The public can also buy tickets to taste the barbeque and vote for themselves the one they like the best for the People’s Choice Award.”

Barbeque taste tester tickets are $10 for three tickets. Voting for the People’s Choice Awards is from noon until 2 p.m.

Registration for the Open Car Show, also supporting the cause, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and no sooner, Simpson said. To register for the car show is $10.

In addition to tasty barbeque and the car show, the public may also enjoy live music entertainment broadcast by 95 Country from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“All types of vendors will be there and there will be games and jump houses for children,” said organizer Georgianna Berry. “It’s just a fun-filled day for the whole family.”

Judging of the car show starts at 1:30 p.m. Awards for the car show will be announced around 3 p.m. immediately followed by the barbeque awards. This includes awards for best chicken, rib, pork butt and brisket. This year’s event offers more than $10,000 in cash prizes for the barbecue.

There is a category for everyone in the car show as well, Simpson said, with a first, second and third place award for the best antique car, antique truck, race car or rat rod, newer cars and best in show for motorcycles and best in show overall.

For more information about the event contact Simpson at the Vidalia Police Department at 318 336-5254.