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October has arrived, and you can almost smell the barbecue already. This year will be the 35^th annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue (The Jack). It will take place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12. There are 85 teams competing, with 22 of them coming from foreign countries.

The competition has grown over the years to see over 40,000 visitors to the two day event. Like the barbecue teams, they come from all over the globe. There is plenty to keep everyone busy both days.

The competition kicks off on Friday morning with an event dubbed “I know Jack…about grillin’!” For this interesting contest the teams are given boxes with ingredients and need to cook a meat, vegetable, and desert in one hour. The teams are allowed to swap out two of their own items for those in the box. Later Friday afternoon will be the parade of teams through the square and Wiseman Park where the main event is held.

Saturday starts early with the Jack Dash 5K run/Walk, which benefits the Moore County Friends of Animals. By 10:00 the whole event is in full swing, with the teams cooking, vendors and merchants ready for business, entertainment tuning up, and visitors arriving by the score. The Country Dog Costume Contest and Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull are must-see events in the afternoon. The Bleached Pig will have a whole hog cooking demonstration with free samples, and TN Meat Co. will have an exotics cooking demonstration, also with free samples.

The judges will be busy with the main cooking events, including Jack Daniel’s Sauce, Cook’s Choice for US competitors, and Home Cookin’ from the Homeland for international competitors. After that come the meat classes of chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulders/butts, and beef brisket (also called the four meats). Teams must cook all four meats. There is also a dessert competition.

Even the team’s sites will be judged. They are encouraged to decorate to feature their home city or state, and gain extra points for incorporating Mr. Jack’s presence into their décor.

There is a homemade cake and pie auction on Saturday afternoon, with proceeds to benefit the Moore County Historical Society. An excellent opportunity, by the way, to purchase the perfect dessert to top off your barbcue.

Another special event taking place Saturday afternoon will be the military swearing in of new recruits going into the military services. These recruits are part of the Delayed Entry Program allowing them to commit to the military while completing school. They will be “unofficially” sworn in, and will be officially sworn in when they leave for Basic Training. The recruits are local to the area, having been recruited from the Manchester and Murfreesboro offices. This is the second year that Jack Daniel’s has conducted the event to honor the military. 

With plenty to see and do, and more than plenty to eat, it’s easy to see why this is one of the main events of the year here in Lynchburg.