The Eastland downtown Square will be full of activity this Saturday. Rip’s Ribs Cooks will line up along Lamar Street competing for cash prizes and boasting rights. Some of the cooks will not only be cooking for the judges, they will also cook a little extra to sell to the public. Watch for signs at those cook booths.
This year the optional categories for desserts, beans, appetizers, and other meats, will be judged a little differently. Instead of volunteers doing the tasting behind closed doors, a group of Eastland High School athletes will be doing the critiquing. Blakney Hodges from KATX radio will be the MC for the event. Stop by the stage at Lamar & Olive St to see how they rate the various entries.
The St Louis Ribs portion of the cook-off will still be judged behind closed doors by a group of celebrities and bbq professionals:
Oli Pettigrew – TV/Podcast/Live Host Online Influencer
Julie Dennis – Manager, Natty Flats Smokehouse
Dylan Smith – KRBC Chief Meteorologist
Derrick Worrels – President, Ranger College
Mary Hutton, Owner, Hutton’s BBQ
Dr. Drew Cassens – Tarleton State University Asst Professor in the Dept of Animal Science
Bill Myers – Long-time resident and known as the “Best Rib Cooker” on his cove
Follow this link to read more about the judges.
Vendors will offer information, jewelry, jerky, freeze-dried candies, coffees, teas, and food. You can even stop by vendor booths to get your hair or nails done. Take a stroll up and down Commerce Street to see what is being offered.
Although Eastland High School will not be performing, they are hosting a day of Jazz Music. High School and College Jazz Bands from around the area will be on the south side of the courthouse beginning at 9 a.m. with Tarleton Jazz Band taking the stage at 4 p.m. to close out the event. Be sure and get there a little early for each of the bands, if you are wanting to catch a particular one, as the schedule may not be strictly adhered to. Watch for a performance by Eastland HS Band coming up in May.
From Noon until 5 pm, Rip’s Wine Festival will be held in the big tent on Commerce Street. Wineries offering tastings include:
- Blue Duck Winery – Cisco, TX
- D’Vine Wine – Granbury, TX
- Skies Over Texas – Early, TX
- The Winery at Willow Creek – Abilene, TX
- Broken X Winery – Cisco, TX
Tickets for the wine tasting offer a pre-sale price of $20 for ten tastings. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Eastland Chamber office at 209 W. Main St. inside the Connellee Hotel. Pre-sales end Thursday at 5 PM. Tickets at the door will be $25 for ten tastings. Debit/Credit Cards and cash will be accepted. Budget a little extra spending money because the wineries will also be selling glasses and bottles of wine.
And if you’re needing perfect weather for a day out, you’ve got it! The weather forecast is for a beautiful sunny day with a high of 81 degrees.
See you on the Square!!
