Kentucky environmental attorney Sanders says Owensboro International Bar-B-Q Festival is May 8-9.

Every second weekend in May, Owensboro springs to life with the wonderful smells and sounds of the International Bar-B-Q Festival. Smoke from hickory-stoked fires blends with the aromas of sizzling chicken, bubbling burgoo and roasting mutton to complete the festival atmosphere. This year, the 31st Annual Owensboro International Bar-B-Q Festival will be held on May 8 and 9, 2009 in downtown Owensboro, Kentucky.

The food feast festival features large portions of barbecued mutton, chicken, pork and beef prepared over top smoldering hickory wood. The Owensboro Bar-B-Q festival has a far-flung reputation for good down-home eatin’ that reflects the very best of Kentucky’s Bar-B-Q cuisine.

The Owensboro International Bar-B-Q Festival is a great time with delicious aromas filling the air in a true Kentucky down-home goodtime experience. A cooking contest pitting eight teams affiliated with Owensboro-region churches will peak with the awarding of the coveted Governor’s Cup on Saturday. Each team cooks up at least 800 chickens, 75 gallons of burgoo and gobs of mutton and pork sold by the pound. All proceeds from these sales go to area charities.

In addition to many restaurants with their own booths, the event features a classic car show, pie-eating and horseshoe-pitching contests, carnival rides and games for kids. Music ranging from country to bluegrass and blues is performed on four stages downtown.

There will be a 5K race/walk on Saturday, May 9th. There is good chance that you will see Covington City Attorney and Owensboro native Frank E. Warnock running in the 5-K race. Wave a hearty hello to Frank as he whizzes past the finish line and towards a big bowl of burgoo.