Busy Weekend on Tap with Springplosion at Willow Creek Park

One of Last Year’s Vendors at Willow Creek Park

The next two weekends are full of local events for area residents with the annual Wild West BBQ contest and Cinco de Mayo this weekend at Willow Creek Park and the Lamar Days activities and the Rod & Run Car Show the following weekend. 

Termed the Springplosion, the two day event will kick off this Friday, May 10, and continue Saturday with the Sho & Shine Car Show featuring low rider vehicles at the park.  The Wild West BBQ organization has teamed with Voces Unidas for the two day presentation. 

Toni McPherson of the BBQ organizing event, detailed some great news for BBQ enthusiasts in that Johnny Trigg will participate in this weekend’s event.  Trigg is an American celebrity chef on a national scale as well as a two time Grand Champion of the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational, and has appeared on the TLC reality television show, BBQ Pitmasters.  McPherson said this year there are 33 entries, the most that has ever signed up to participate in the annual contest which is run under the auspices of the Kansas City Barbecue Society.  She added that there will be four BBQ vendors selling food for the crowds and the contest organizers are looking for more.  The Backyard Grillers competition is back after an absence of several years, featuring local talent grilling donated steaks.    You’ll need your own grill and a $10 entry fee to vie for the traveling trophy and a $100 prize once the judges have taken a bite of your entry.  The new competition event features a green chili cook-off for area enthusiasts.

Backyard Grillers Champion

The Show & Shine Low Rider Car Show starts at 10am on Saturday, May 11 with registration at 7am and a $10 entry fee.  The Arkansas Valley Wagon Pullers will have a demonstration in the park through the weekend which features inflatable kid’s rides, music by DJ Paul Navarrette and Spanish dancer Kenia Grajeda Vasquez.  Mexican food booths will also be available.

By Russ Baldwin