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Tourism committee selects St. Louis Barbecue Society as sanctioning body for Route 66 Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival
Summary
Committee voted to use the St. Louis Barbecue Society to sanction the Route 66 Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival, set an event weekend in May and reported a pending $25,000 sponsorship application to cover prizes, bands and rental costs.
The Pacific Tourism Committee voted to use the St. Louis Barbecue Society as the sanctioning body for the Route 66 Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival, a multi-day event now scheduled for May 2–4, the committee heard.
The committee approved the motion by voice vote with no nays reported. “I motion that we use St. Louis Barbecue Society, as our sanctioning body for the barbecue,” said an unidentified committee member who moved the motion; another member seconded. Voice vote recorded the motion as carried.
Committee members discussed three sanctioning bodies and cost differences. The committee heard that the St. Louis Barbecue Society charges roughly $300 plus about $10 per team and does not require lodging and travel payments for judges because of proximity, while the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) and the Memphis Barbecue Network carry higher sanctioning fees and may require travel and lodging for judges. Committee members described St. Louis Barbecue Society as “budget friendly” and easier to coordinate with.
Organizers outlined event programming: people’s-choice voting on Friday night, a pro competition on Saturday with awards around 4 p.m., music and vendors Saturday evening, and a local competition Sunday. Committee members said the event would include vendors, a people’s-choice award, and activities intended to draw families and visitors.
The committee also reported an application for a $25,000 sponsorship/grant to cover prize money, bands and stage rental. “We did apply for a $25,000 sponsorship slash grant,” an unidentified committee member said; committee members said they expect a decision around mid-February. The committee noted the grant would pay rentals and performance costs but not purchases.
Clarifying details provided to the committee included the comparative sanction fees, the May 2–4 weekend availability, and the grant’s limited allowable expenses. Committee members discussed logistics such as judge lodging for larger sanctioning bodies and the need for vendor outreach to increase attendance.
Ending: Committee members said the goal is to run the festival annually if funding and attendance support continuation; the festival organizers will proceed with the chosen sanctioning body and follow up on the sponsorship decision.
