By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club is hosting two events in one day to give back to the community. The Smokin’ and Stokin’ Poker run and the Smokin’ and Stokin’ BBQ Cookoff will be on Oct. 12.
Fundraising Chairperson for the Rotary Club, Jamie Overton, said these events are very special to the club.
“In Rotary, we are all about service above self and we do a lot for the community that a lot of people don’t know about,” said Overton.
The Poker Run will begin at Riders Harley Davidson on Norrell Drive. Registration is at 9 a.m. and kickstands up is at 10:30 a.m. The ride is $20 per bike and $10 per passenger. Money raised will go to support Lt. Jerry Presley, a Tarrant firefighter who was injured in the line of duty.
“We do our best to support our first responders and our residents, and Lt. Presley does live here in Trussville, so we wanted to do our best to show support for his family,” said Overton.
The group ride will go past the Tarrant Fire Department and will make stops at The Trussville Cigar Company, Van’s Bar, Sheepdog Firearms and other locations. The last stop will be at the 2nd Annual Smokin’ and Stokin’ BBQ Cookoff at the Trussville Civic Center. The cost of the barbecue cookoff is included in the price for the poker run.
The barbecue cookoff event will run from noon until 5 p.m. The event is a Kansas City Barbecue Society and an Alabama Barbecue Association event. Around 40 teams will compete for the best ribs, pork and chicken to move into the leader boards. If you are interested in participating in the competition, click here or email Jamie@EIBOffice.com. Anyone can join.
There will be plenty to do for the whole family, according to Overton.
“You can sample barbecue from the individual teams, there will be a cornhole competition, food trucks, beer, OutShine, which is Birmingham’s number one party band,” said Overton. “There will also be a kids area so everyone can just hang out and have a good time.”
Of course, money raised from the event will go right back into the community.
“The purpose of the cookoff is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club to help fund the projects that we do in the community and the world,” said Overton.
There will also be a Boston Butt sale. You can pre-order or buy the day of the event for $35.
The Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club will also have a bucket drop where people can buy tickets for a drawing for several items. If you like an item, drop a ticket in the bucket for a chance to win it. Money from the bucket drop will go to Lt. Jerry Presley and his family.
The Rotary Club is asking local businesses to donate items for the bucket drop.
“We would like this to be a flagship event, so we would really like for local businesses to get involved,” said Overton. “The city has so much to offer and we want a way to bring people into the city that normally wouldn’t come here and we thought this was a great way to do it.”
To join in on the event, the cost is $10 for anyone 13 years of age and up. For ages 4 to 12, the cost is $5 and ages 3 and under get in free.
Security will be provided by the Trussville Police Department and the Gunfighters (Law Enforcement) MC Birmingham Chapter.
For more information on these events and the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club, visit the group’s Facebook page.
