Rotary Day in the Park has shifted to the midpoint of the Allen County Fair this year.
The fair kicks off Thursday and Rotarians will hold sway on Saturday with their “Smokin’ Hot Cars & BBQ.” In years past the premier event has been on the fair’s opening day, for decades a Saturday.
Activities will be in Riverside Park. Judging for the barbecue will be in the Little Theatre of the Community Building.
Barbecue teams will arrive on Friday and the backyard chefs will fire up grills that evening to begin the traditional slow-cooking of several meats.
To date 22 teams have entered the cook-off, 14 fewer than in 2016, but it is not uncommon for contestants to arrive at the last minute.
Fairgoers will have opportunities to sample barbecue during a community picnic starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. For $5 a pulled pork sandwich, chips and ice cold water will be handed over. Purchase of a barbecue ticket also will make the recipient eligible for a 1:30 p.m. drawing for prizes and cash.
The Neil Westervelt Memorial Car Show can be expected to fill much of the south park with vehicles of many descriptions, some shiny and tweaked to the nth degree, others in the process of being redone and still others brought for the fun of it.
About 100 businesses and individuals have contributed to support the twin events, making it far and away Iola Rotary’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds benefit a variety of club projects, including one that provides eyeglasses and another that gives people access to clean water in third world countries.
