It’s about time for the most anticipated event of the "Christmas on the River" season to begin. Do you smell what they’re cooking? Well you can at the 2003 Alabama State Championship Barbeque Cook-off Dec. 5 and 6 at the City Landing ballfield.

This event was first held in 1989 and has gotten bigger and bigger every year.

Think about it &045; 34 teams from all over the Southeast cooking tons of smoking hot, tender barbeque, vying for the Alabama State Championship. Of the 34 teams in this year’s competition, 20 are professional teams and the other 14 are local teams.

There will be four categories in this event, whole hog, ribs, shoulder, and backyard. Each category will be awarded five places except the backyard category, which will be three places.

The gates will open on Friday night at 4 p.m. and on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the winners announced that afternoon between 3-4 p.m. The admission for the event will be $5 per person.

They will have vendors selling food. "We want all the public to come out and support this event and please pray for good weather," Willingham said.