This past weekend we attended one of our favorite local annual events, the Battle of the Bones in Central Point, Oregon. The beer, wine and barbecue competition raises funds for that community’s Parks and Recreation Foundation, so the proceeds go to a good cause. We’ve attended each of the three years since we moved here (I believe this was the sixth such event), and each year it gets a little better, with more on offer and better organization.

As barbecue competitions go, I’m sure it’s on the small side of the scale, with 10 teams competing this year. Nevertheless, with a total of $10,000 in prize money on the line, those submitting chicken, brisket, ribs, pulled pork and chili put their all into the effort. The judges, provided by the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association, tasted all of those items; the public only weighed in on their favorites of the pork (on Saturday) and chili and chicken (on Sunday).

Entry to the event, which included plenty of vendors offering all manner of food and drink for sale (pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, curly fries, tornado cakes, frosty fruit drinks) was free. If you wanted to taste the beer, 10 bucks got you 16 2-ounce tastes (or any combination totalling 32 ounces); and the same amount bought you 10 ounces of wine. That choice was easy — what better to go with barbecue than beer? Another $10 bought a punch card for 12 tastes of meat, and $5 paid for 10 chili samples. Past experience taught us that the two of us could happily get our fill and then some by sharing one punch card and one beer glass.

It’s always fun to experience the range of tastes — sweet to smoky to spicy-hot — the contestants provide and to debate our favorites. Very much a community event, the B.O.B. provides plenty of people-watching entertainment and the chance to chat with the friendly folks sharing your table or the line at the beer tables. The organizers always have a line-up of musicians for the stage, and we enjoyed a long set by the Ben Rice Band, a trio playing a sort of blues/rockabilly/country mix, as we nibbled our way through the afternoon.

Yep, I can’t think of a much better way to kick off the summer season and head into the Fourth of July festivities than with a little barbecue and beer!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor