If the idea of sampling ribs and wings while enjoying cooler outdoor air, whether a false fall or not, jamming to country music and meeting alligators up close sounds good to you, head to Summerdale …
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If the idea of sampling ribs and wings while enjoying cooler outdoor air, whether a false fall or not, jamming to country music and meeting alligators up close sounds good to you, head to Summerdale in a few weeks.
Oh, and one more thing. It's all for a good cause.
The Central Baldwin Sunset Rotary Club is holding its 10th-annual Alligator & Ale event Oct. 5 at Alligator Alley, 19950 County Road 71. This year's barbecue cookoff will feature live music throughout the day from two Nashville and one local artist. About 20 teams will prepare chicken wings and pork ribs, with samples available to guests. Proceeds from this judged, unsanctioned event will benefit disadvantaged children and veterans in the community, according to Peggy Nelson with the rotary club. Over the last nine years, the club has donated $120,000 to the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama, $6,000 to Kids for Cribs, High Hopes for Autism, The Marine Corp League in Baldwin County, Making Memories Hunt and other nonprofits.
Amid the music and meats, Wes Moore, owner and operator of Alligator Alley, will showcase his alligators in a demonstration at 11 a.m., and barbecue tastings will be available starting at 11:30 a.m.
Local artist Kaleb King will take the stage at 10:30 a.m., followed by at Will Jones at 12:30 p.m. and at Greylan James at 2:30 p.m.
Jones has lived and breathed all things country since he was "half the height to a hound dog." Beginning his music career at just 6, he started performing with his family's traveling bluegrass band, The Cana Ramblers, and would go on to garner national notoriety for their final album release in 2009, "No Expectations," according to his bio.
Since going his own with a solo career as a singer-songwriter at the age of 17, Jones's music has taken him all over the southern United States performing at high profile events with some of the biggest names in the country music spectrum, including Tracy Lawrence, Sierra Hull, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Thile, Johnny Cash, Osborne Brothers, Ralph Stanley, Ben Haggard and many more.
From the moment his Papaw gifted him his first guitar at the age of 5, James knew he was meant to be a musician. The Knoxville-raised artist-on-the-rise has been manifesting his vision of country music stardom since his earliest days: from those cleats and cowboy hats he wore to school to playing every sort of live show imaginable, from tailgates to patios and dive bars to funerals, around his hometown. Since moving to Music City eight years ago, James has become a "celebrated songwriter" (Country Now), earning cuts from some of country music's most notable artists including Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, Bailey Zimmerman, Breland and more, according to his bio.
The singer/songwriter recently earned his first No. 1 and ACM Award for Song Of The Year co-writing Jordan Davis' smash hit "Next Thing You Know." The song also earned Greylan his first CMA Award nomination for Song Of The Year.
Each team of six will cook six slabs of St. Louis style ribs and 10 wings. Entries will be judged on tenderness, taste and presentation.
Wings will be judged at 11 a.m., ribs at 11:45 a.m. and people's choice at 12:30 p.m.
Public tasters will be given a wrist band to sample. Each person with a wrist band will have one ticket to vote for people's choice.
All food will be cooked on-site, provided by Farm Fresh Meats.