Main Street Promises a Hot Time in the Old Town

It will be “A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight,” or actually on Friday and Saturday in Sallisaw. That’s when the Hot Pickin’ Finger Lickin’ Barbecue and Band Fest will be held in downtown Sallisaw, sponsored by Sallisaw Main Street.

This hot time includes a variety of live music and a barbecue cook off that guarantees toe tapping and good eating.

The event kicks off at noon Friday when Sallisaw Main Street members will begin offering Indian tacos in front of the library for a mere $5.

Toe tapping begins at 7 p.m. Friday when a variety of bands begin playing. This year’s bands include Crossroads, the Rebel Ridge Rascals, Whiskey Revolver, and Matt Garland and the Shotgun Reunion. The music will continue at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“I think the bands are going to be real good,” said Margaret Perry of Sallisaw Main Street. Perry encourages festival goers to bring their lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the music.

The finger lickin’ commences at 11 a.m. on Saturday. That’s when barbecue tasters’ kits will be available for $7. The kit entitles the taster to sample all the wares of the barbecue cook off competitors, and includes a ticket so the taster may vote for the People’s Choice winner. The People’s Choice winner gets $200 and a huge trophy. The cook off winners, decided by a judge’s panel, get $200 for first, $150 for second, $100 for third and $50 for fourth. A Let’s Get Sauced contest has been added this year, for the best tasting sauce, and that winner gets $100. 

Perry said Sallisaw Main Street provides between 500 and 600 pounds of pork butt for the cook off, and competition for the Peoples’ Choice award is intense.

“They all want that trophy. This is a real fun event, and the barbecue is outstanding,” Perry said.

Vendors will also have booths at the event for those who need a little shopping along with the food and the music. The Lawbreakers and Peacemakers, a western re-enactment group from Van Buren, will also be performing in front of the library.

For more information about the Hot Pickin’ Finger Lickin’ Barbecue and Band Fest contact Perry at 918-790-3315.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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