Festival of the lakes BBQ contest returns after 3-year hiatus

LEXINGTON, Tenn — A three day event and Henderson county tradition heated up for day two of the Festival of the Lakes.

Executive Director of the Henderson county Chamber of Commerce, Kim Douglass said “we’ve inspected the meat and they are preparing to cook all night long”.

The BBQ contest has been gone for the past three years, but Douglass said that she is glad to have it back.

“We have 6 teams which is great for the first year and we’re very excited about that” Douglass said.

Although the festival of lakes has been around since the 1960’s, the BBQ contest was introduced in the mid 1990’s.

Douglass explained that “we actually have a BBQ cooker here that was here that very first year”.

Mike Montgomery, one of the very first to compete, told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News about how that moment was for him.

“Well, we won it” said Montgomery

Montgomery’s partner , Harold Cothrin said he was a young boy during the first contest and he loves the fact that the competition is finally back.

“This is why we’re here beside the lake enjoying life that’s why we do it,” he said. “That’s why we enjoy coming to this particular BBQ contest and the fireworks” Cothrin said.

The tables have turned for this years contest, “I showed him how to BBQ and well now he’s teaching me,” Montgomery said.