HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The WhistleStop Festival is this Friday, September 9th and Saturday, September 10th at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The annual fundraiser benefits education initiatives at the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum.
The event will include Shadetree and KCBS Professional BBQ competitions, the People’s Choice Tasting Competition, Wing Thing and great music. New for 2022 is the Hot Grills Car Show, Non-Competition Tailgate Spots, the Tasting Tent and 3 large screen TVs with all the college football action on Saturday.
Cookers and attendees alike can expect a renewed focus on the festival’s roots this year; like the People’s Choice competition and the Wing Thing Competition. However, guests will also see new additions to this year's festival, such as the E4 Technology WhistleStop Tasting Tent.
For the first-time visitors can upgrade their general admission ticket to gain access to the Tasting Tent. A Tasting upgrade includes exclusive access to the Tasting Tent area, along with special samplings of craft spirits, local beers and select wines. Throughout the course of the festival, Tasting Tent patrons will also be treated to samplings of “smoke-inspired small-bites.” The Tasting Tent will be open on Friday from 8pm thru 10:30pm and on Saturday from 11am thru 10:30pm.
About 110 cookers are expected to compete in either the Kansas City Barbeque Society’s sanctioned professional competition or the amateur ShadeTree Barbeque Cook-off. Cookers and judges come from 10 to 15 different states and each year even a small contingent from outside the U.S. Amateurs will serve up chicken and ribs, while the professionals will showcase their best chicken, pork, ribs and beef brisket.
If barbecue isn’t your thing, you can still arrive with an empty stomach — food trucks will be on hand with a variety of menu options.
Also new to the WhistleStop Festival is the Hot Grills Car Show. The show will bring out the best of the best in cars on Saturday morning beginning at 10:00am. Awards for Best of Show, Crowd Favorite and Chairman’s Choice will be announced at 1:30pm on Saturday. Friday night Jeep owners will be out to show off for Jeep lovers.
The WhistleStop Festival is open Friday 4pm-11pm and Saturday 10am-11pm at John Hunt Park. Tickets are just $10 per day. Tasting Tent upgrades are available for Friday and Saturday. Festival Parking is located behind Joe Davis Stadium and will be $5. Guest are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.whistlestopweekend.com.