Do Dat: The Holy Grail of barbecue competition
Friday night party will generate additional funds for local charities
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Plans are under way for the 23nd annual Do Dat Barbecue slated for Sept. 15 at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center.
The Do Dat Barbecue brings teams from across East Texas to Nacogdoches for the annual competition that determines the best cooks of beef, chicken, pork and bean food categories and in showmanship.
 Christy Wooten/Cox East Texas Knight Train band member Janie Knighten leads the Budweiser girls in a dance during the band's performance at last year's Do Dat.  Christy Wooten/Cox East Texas Larry Nabours of Custom Colors checks on his competition chicken with special seasonings at last year's Do Dat. |
Sponsored annually by The Daily Sentinel and R&K Distributors/Budweiser, Do Dat Barbecue welcomes returning corporate sponsors this year with Nacogdoches Medical Center, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and BancorpSouth joining the Do Dat team. Additional corporate sponsors are being sought.
Booth spaces for the barbecue cookoff and vendor spaces for the arts and crafts show are filling up quickly, according to David Lawrence, an event coordinator.
Teams will begin arriving at the Expo Center Friday afternoon, Sept. 14, for check-in in preparation for the all-day, all-you-can-eat event on Saturday.
In an effort to generate additional funds for the charities supported by Do Dat Barbecue and pay for added security, admission is being charged this year to the Friday night party leading up to Saturday's cookoff. The Friday night party begins at 6 p.m., and admission is $5 per person.
The barbecue fun begins at 10 a.m. Saturday when cook teams begin serving up their best barbecue for the public to sample.
In addition to providing good food, the Do Dat offers arts and crafts, an auction benefiting foster children, horseshoe, washer and board washer competitions, games for children, a moon walk and a dunking booth. Baby-sitting will be provided by Eastside United Pentecostal Church.
One of the highlights of the Do Dat each year is the auction, which gets under way at noon Saturday inside the Expo Center. Jim Elder, coordinator for the auction, described this year's prizes that have already been donated as "fantastic." Among the featured items will be a $1,000 gift certificate from Kroger Food Store, a party for 50 with food, dancing, tables and chairs donated by University Rental (valued at $2,000), a shotgun and an autographed basketball by Coach Bobby Knight.
Saturday's musical entertainment will feature the return of Knight Train, a high-energy band from South Louisiana that performs a variety of musical styles, including Cajun zydeco, "swamp pop" and Louisiana rhythm and blues. Billing itself as "The South Louisiana Party Band," Knight Train officially formed in 1999, although the band's roots can be traced to 1990 when the father-son duo of Charles and Todd Knighten performed together. Band sponsor is R&K Distributing.
Admission for Do Dat Barbecue is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 through 12, and children 5 and under are admitted free.
Do Dat Barbecue is a BYOB event, and there is a $5 cooler charge (no glass containers allowed) on Saturday. Proceeds from the cooler charge will again benefit the Beta Sigma Phi's Nacogdoches Pro-Rodeo Scholarship Fund.
Proceeds from Do Dat Barbecue go to local charities, such as the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, Alzheimer's Association, local Scouting and Explorer groups. A large portion also helps fund the NOBLE Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to Nacogdoches County high school graduates who plan to attend SFA.
For information about the event, contact David Lawrence or Robbie Goodrich at 564-8361. Inquiries about the arts and craft show may be directed to Kim Cross, also available at 564-8361.
