With COVID-19 now in rear view, Smokin’ returns

    Crowds may have been down from two years ago, but attendance at Smokin’ on Broadway activities Saturday was good considering all the competition that day and some possible lingering COVID-19 concerns.
    Of course, 2020 saw no Smokin’ due to COVID, and this year’s event faced a few other big activities the same day that took people away.
    But, the coordinators believe it was a great day, with huge response to the inflatables for the kids and several hundred at the free barbecue at night, followed by the concerts.
    Based on wrist band distribution, committee member Chris Lee said there were between 1,400 and 1,500 people on the grounds throughout the day.
    Jack Schnieder, committee member who heads up the BBQ competition, said competitors were down a bit from two years ago, but seven of the smokers were returners.
    Nine teams and/or individuals competed in the competition, around which all the day’s events are centered. The cooking actually started Friday night after the brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork and sausage were distributed, with judging starting at 1 p.m. the next day.
    “It went smooth and it was the best weather we’ve had for Smokin’,” Schnieder said.
    There were two first-time smokers this year, Schnieder said, and those who return each year like Imperial’s Smokin’ event.
    “Those guys who come back really enjoy it,” he said.
    Happy Jack’s BBQ of Holyoke, Colorado took the top honors and the $750 cash prize in the meat competition. They also took first or second in four other divisions.
    Second place overall went to the crew from Bald Butts BBQ of Benkelman, who also placed in two other divisions.
    The morning kids’ bike parade kicked off the day’s events, and drew a smaller group this year compared to two years ago, but was enthusiastically led by CCS Band Director Agnes Strand. All youths received a red ribbon.
    Organized by the Lions Club, members are considering moving the parade to the afternoon, and coordinating a route all the way around the block instead of just along Broadway, said Lions President Sheryl Curtis.
    There were just three participants in each of the hot wing and salsa-making contests.
Pizza Hut’s Amanda Keneipp said it was like Dexter’s Laboratory in the Pizza Hut kitchen Saturday morning as they prepared for the hot wing contest.
Five flavors were prepared—burning hot sauce with cajun dust, buffalo hot sauce with BBQ sauce, buffalo hot sauce with BBQ and crushed chili pepper, buffalo hot sauce with garlic Parmesan and just buffalo hot sauce.
In one of the two previous contests, competitors started off with a milder sauce and worked up to the hottest, and in the other year, there was only one kind of sauce used. Keneipp said she thought multiple flavors went over well, and the competitors ate more.
    It was busy in the city gym as 12 cornhole teams competed in a new Smokin’ event, and 11 were outdoors at the thirsty painter activity, organized by Sara Stretesky.
    Stretesky also coordinated the paint-out contest with student and adult divisions. She said paintings not picked up Saturday are at the city office.
    Several youngsters got creative in the library in the Lego building competition. Divisional and overall winners were selected.
    Schnieder estimated that 500-600 were served the free BBQ in the evening. It was provided as a thank-you from Chamber businesses for support during COVID.
    Several hundred stayed on the grounds for the evening trio of concerts.
    Schnieder said the committee will have to work harder on recruiting more food vendors during the day, and the committee will be looking at other alternate activities for 2022.