Love barbecue? Check out barbecue fest at Eastern Florida's Melbourne campus

Barbecue, music, classic cars: How could a Saturday get any better than that?

Enjoying all of the above, plus knowing you're supporting scholarships for Eastern Florida State College.

That's what's in store this weekend at the EFSC Foundation's fourth annual Blues & Brews Backyard BBQ Cook-Off & Family Fest, set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the EFSC Melbourne Campus, 3865 N. Wickham Road.

The event features barbecue samples from the 23 teams participating in the competition, plus bluegrass music by the Penny Creek Band, a kid zone, vendors, beer distributors and food trucks. The Red, White & Wheels Car Show also will be onsite. 

Admission is $10.

All the money from sponsors and ticket sales go to the EFSC Foundation, said Jennie Kriete, the foundation's director.

"The foundation supports the mission of the college, which includes student scholarships, college program funding needs and other initiatives the college sees fit," Kriete said. "But 90 percent of our fundraising goes to student scholarships."

Kriete said when she joined the foundation in 2015, it was providing 291 scholarships for EFSC students. Now, that number has grown to more than 750.

"Our big push for our 60th anniversary (which is this year) is to fund 60 new scholarships," she said.

Last year's barbecue festival brought in almost $100,000 and drew more than 1,500 guests.

"I'm anticipating 2,000 or more this year," Kriete said.

This year's barbecue teams will be competing for prize money, and nine corporate teams will be vying for the people's choice award, the coveted Golden Pig.

"Viera Company's Blazing Barbecue won last year," Kriete said, "and they're confident they're going to win again. But I think they've got some competition around the corner."

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This is a backyard contest, so all the teams are amateurs, but they all take barbecue seriously. Prize money is awarded for the grand champion, as well as for teams placing in brisket, pork and ribs categories.

The teams will give out free barbecue samples while they last, so arrive early if you want a taste.

"If the barbecue does run out, know that you're still donating to scholarships, and there are still fun things to do," Krite said.

"It's a really fun day. It's family-oriented. It's a chance to see what the college is doing. Being our diamond anniversary, we're hoping to put it over the top."

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