Teams from around North America will descend on the city’s downtown core to compete in a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned event.

Local residents will get a chance to sample some of the best barbecue at the Thrifty Foods Nanaimo Barbecue Festival’s inaugural BBQ Cook-­Off.

I for one cannot wait to be there to smell the meat cooking and yes,to try EVERYTHING!!! The folks behind the festival have so much going on – there will be something for everyone – well, maybe not for vegetarians, but you know what I mean. Hmmm – wonder if they want another judge – pick me, pick me!!

Here are some of the things you can expect at the Nanaimo Barbeque Festival:

Now it doesn’t take much convincing to get kids into a kitchen to make chocolatey cupcakes with sprinkles on top – the trick is to get them to measure, mix, pour, and bake – to actually learn something while having fun.  And that’s what Kelli knows how to do.  She gets them right in there so there’s a real sense of accomplishment when the oven timer goes and they pull out a tray of goodies.

It doesn’t hurt that each of the kids is given a cool chef’s hat and an apron; they all felt like chefs even before the baking began.  Ella was particularly pleased that the hats were pink; her friend Torben, not so much.  Actually, he did very well with a room full of girls.  Whether you do a baking party as a birthday event, or take a class with other kids, it’s a great way for them to have fun, learn valuable skills, and get a bit messy.