EarlyPioneerDaysLogoEarly Pioneer Days is set to kick off on September 16th and 17th with family fun, competitions and concerts on Saturday night at the Early City Park.

The public is invited to compete in the Lone Star BBQ Cookoff, sponsored by South Park Medical Park beginning on September 16th.

Registration deadline is 6 p.m. on Friday evening, September 16, 2016.  Entry fee for BBQ items is $150 per person or team.  Categories of chicken, ribs and brisket will be judged.  All meat is to be cooked on site.  Additional categories are Jackpot Beans and Chef’s Choice, entry fees for each of these is $25.

Cookers can arrive any time after 12:00 p.m. on Friday.  A cook’s meeting will be held on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.

For rules and entry form, CLICK HERE.

Prizes are as follows:

  • $300 Grand Champion prize
  • $200 Reserve Champion prize
  • 80 % payout and $500 added money on Meat
  • 100% payout on Beans & Chef’s Choice

This marks the 4th year for Early Pioneer Days.  The event has seen tremendous growth over the last three years.  Additions to this year’s event include a carnival, the Pioneer Man Contest, county fair theme contests: pie and hot dog eating contest as well as sack races, three-legged races, wheel barrel races, U12 Girls Softball Tournament and much more.

Early Pioneer Days officially kicks off Friday, September 16th with vendors opening at 4:30 p.m., a Lone Star Sanctioned BBQ Cook-off, a U12 girls’ softball tournament and “DJ in the Park” with local favorite David Gist.  Saturday, September 17th will feature the 5K or Dye Run, the Pioneer Man/Woman Contest, fried pie and hot dog eating contests, kids’ area and demonstrations and much more!

Concert Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 17th with local favorite Callahan Divide taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.  Texas Music sensation Casey Donahew will take the stage at 10 p.m. A Fireworks show will conclude the two-day event.

For more information, visit www.earlychamber.com and the Chamber’s Facebook page or call the chamber at 325-649-9300.