Meat & Music Spectacular this Saturday

     The third annual Meat & Music Spectacular will be held this Saturday, Aug. 5 on Main Street in Buffalo Center. The all-day event runs from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

     The BBQ, salsa and cupcake competitions all return this year. This year’s categories for the BBQ contest, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., include chicken, pork ribs and “Anything Bacon”. Christensen Farms is sponsoring 1.5 pounds of bacon per team. Top prize in the BBQ contest is $500, with a $25 entry fee. People can contact Anna Balvance with questions at 507-381-5874.

     The salsa contest will be held at 10 a.m., with salsa tasting at 10:30. To sign up, call Kim and Mark Ostermann at 515-341-0532. The cupcake wars will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and people can sign up by calling Megan Ostermann at 515-341-1689.

     There will be plenty more to eat throughout the day, with food being served starting at 9 a.m. North Iowa Betterment will hold a breakfast at the senior center, featuring biscuits and gravy. There will also be mini donuts by Boy Scout Troop 418, and food trucks from Eats & Treats and Kim’s Cupcakery. Starting at 10 a.m., there will be fresh-squeezed lemonade, a Bloody Mary bar and beer from 5 Alarm Brewery.

     At noon, there will be a pulled pork meal by NIB, along with root beer floats and the opening of the beer garden. The After Prom will be serving walking tacos at 4 p.m., and at 7 p.m., there will be nachos with meat and cheese.

     The other main highlight of the day is the music, which starts with karaoke from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Steve Lang will perform from 12-3 p.m., followed by Russ Lachney from 3-6 p.m. DJ Silb will keep things going from 6-9 p.m., and then Pork Tornadoes will perform from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

     Other features of the Meat & Music Spectacular include a craft and vendor show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a bags tournament at 3:30 p.m., and games of Hammerschlagen and Jenga, featuring prizes. There will also be a raffle for a Traeger smoker package.

     Main Street will be closed to vehicles on Saturday for the event, and Main Street Market and Murra Hardware encourage customers to do their shopping early on Friday. Both stores will still be open on Saturday, with the back doors open. Main Street Market will close early on Saturday at 7 p.m.