If you want to taste some of the best barbecue in the region and want to watch barbecue bad boys compete at cooking, check out the “Smokin’ in the Valley” Western North Carolina Barbecue Festival Sept. 26-27 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds in Maggie Valley.

This fifth annual festival has drawn 55 professional sauce sorcerers from North Carolina to Alabama who will compete for the grand champion prize of $2,500 and a trophy.

The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society — the world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts — and will focus on the barbecue-abilities for chicken, pork, pork ribs and beef brisket.

In addition, there is a “Tastin’ Tent” where the public can pay $10 to judge the barbecue from different teams including Feelin Porky, Grillin Gangsters and Silence of the Hams.

“Barbecue is not only a sport, but it’s an art form and a family event,” said Lynn Collins, executive director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Teams in the past have cooked on single grills while others have had “$50,000 cookers,” Collins said, adding that attendees can walk amongst all the cooking booths.

The festival highlights include live bluegrass, country and gospel music, 40 arts and crafts booths, and free kid’s zone.

Barbecue browsers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, strollers and pets to this family event, which an estimated 5,000 attended last year.

Friday’s fall frolic features a “Kids-Q,” beginning at 4 p.m., which allows children to compete at cooking chicken breasts and hamburgers.

Also on Friday, the “Anything Butt Dessert” and “Anything Butt Meat” competitions will be judged by local “celebrities.”

The “Wine and Swine” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and features Western North Carolina restaurants preparing chopped pork paired with wine samples. There is a $10 admission to “Wine and Swine,” and participants get to sample five sauces — tomato, vinegar, mustard, sweet, and hot and spicy.

Awards for “Wine and Swine” will be given at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

There will be a “Tastin’ Tent” at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and admission is $10 per person with 150 seats available at each time.

The awards ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. featuring the N.C. Governor’s Trophy, Maggie’s Best People’s Choice award and Anything Butt Dessert and Meat awards.

Also during festival, the Lion’s Club will host bingo and the Western North Carolina Sportsman’s Club will have an air gun range to benefit their youth program.

In conjunction with the BBQ festival there is a motorcycle benefit ride on Saturday, Sept. 27, to support the local community friends of Tommy DeGeoso, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation and Haywood Animal Welfare Association (HAWA) for $15 per person.

There will be three motorcycle rides to choose from departing the festival grounds in the morning with a map provided by America Rides.

Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. Admission is $3 for adults and children 12 and under are free. For more information call 828.926.1686 or visit www.wncbbqfestival.org.