North Sunflower County will be “Under the Pig Top” this weekend as the Great Ruleville Roast commences on Friday and runs through Saturday. The air will be filled with competition barbeque, fireworks and the sounds of great music. There’s plenty of family fun throughout including classic cars and tractors as well as a pancake breakfast, 5k run/walk and fireworks. The two-decade old Great Ruleville Roast has been dubbed “Under the Pig Top – The Greatest Festival on Earth.”
Brad Cooper, Ruleville Chamber of Commerce president, explained, “Under the Pig Top – we’re doing a circus theme – the Greatest Festival on Earth.”
The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday with the Memphis BBQ Network Sanctioned barbeque Competition – the 13th year – followed by a free concert by the Players, a sponsor’s dinner at The Pharm and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. by Shane Floyd. The barbeque competition is part of the four event Delta Barbeque Battle. Elise Jenkins is in charge of the cooking part of the festival.
“This is one of the legs of the Delta Barbeque Battle,” Jenkins said. “There are four contests and you have to cook in three. Two have already happened – the Q on the Yazoo in Greenwood and Pig Pickin’ at Delta State. We’ll have between 45-50 teams.”
Octoberfest in Cleveland will be the final leg of the Delta Barbeque Battle. There are different divisions of competitors as well as a steak cook off.
“We have a Patio Division and a Championship Division. In conjunction with the BBQ event, we have a Friday event sponsored by Smithfield – the Pork Loin Extravaganza with a $500 first place, $300 second and $200 for third.”
The Steak Cook Off Association event is sponsored by Two Brooks Farms Rice with a steak division and “one bite rice” competition on Saturday.
Saturday begins with the Ruleville-Drew Rotary Pancake Breakfast – the oldest fundraiser in their district – at the historic Depot at 6:30 a.m. The 5K walk/run registration begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by the run at 8:00 a.m. and the walk at 8:15 a.m. The Classic Car and Tractor Show will feature both antique models such as Ford Model A and Model T’s as well as newer vehicles like the Dodge Hellcat.
Kid activities include train rides and the entertainment on Saturday will feature local high school entertainment and much more. And it’s not too late to be part of the Great Ruleville Roast.
“The barbeque awards start around 5:00 p.m.,” Cooper said. “If anyone else wants to be a vendor they can contact Amanda Ware at (662) 458-8570. If they want to be in the car show, call me at (662) 417-5815. And as far as the cooking, they need to call Elise Jenkins at (662) 719-1675 or (662) 756-2011.”
“I usually give them up until the day of to be in the festival,” Ware said. “There is an application on our Facebook page, The Great Ruleville Roast.
Runners and walkers can sign up online at, www.racesonline.com. Look for The Great Ruleville Roast. For more information, check out the Great Ruleville Roast and Run Facebook page as well.
