Popular nonprofit event benefits Special Olympics

It started in backyards, moved to city parks and then hit the parking lots.

For the past decade, professional and amateur cooks from across the state and around the country have gathered in Colleyville for an annual barbecue competition. In April, Colleyville Old Tyme Bar-B-Que Cook-off will host its annual barbecue cook-off sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association. The event is a fundraiser for Law Enforcement Torch Run Special Olympics Texas.

"You can come out on Friday night and see a live band, and eat fried fish for free," said Kevin Walling, a Colleyville police detective. "Donations are welcome. Saturday you can come back, bring your kids and enjoy barbecue plate lunches that are sold. And at the end of it all, the City of Colleyville writes a check to the Special Olympics Texas."

The group Colleyville Old Tyme Bar-B-Que Cook-off has been a nonprofit since 2001, raising roughly $145,000 for Special Olympics Texas. Many people work to make the event a success, including Mayor David Kelly and city staff, Charlie Hall of Hall's Grocery and his family, and city police. In 1999, Walling started the first cook-off with friends and family in his backyard.

"About 67 cookers showed up, which we weren't expecting," he said. "We were floored."

The event has grown to include about 80 cooks from surrounding cities and from across the country, from Louisiana and Oklahoma to Wisconsin. Anyone can enter the competition to cook chicken, ribs, brisket or beans. Winners are awarded trophies, medals and prize money.

In 2007, organizers started Kids-Q, a cook-off contest for children ages 8 to 14. About 14 children competed to cook a chicken quarter on small charcoal grills. Kelly remembers the city's police and fire chiefs and firefighters judged the food on its appearance, smell, taste and tenderness.

"These kids turned in the chicken when they thought it was ready and it was all raw," Kelly said, laughing.

But these days, the children are serious about cooking.

"Now the kids really get into it," Kelly said. "They bring their own marinade."

This year's cook-off will be held outside the Colleyville Center.

"It is an event that still keeps that hometown feel that we like to have in Colleyville," he said. "And it benefits some great kids, Special Olympics kids who are just wonderful."

Event schedule

April 27, 6–11 p.m. Free fish fry until it runs out Live bands Bounce houses VIP area open with barbecue and beverages ($25 donation)

April 28, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Barbecue for sale by the plate Kids-Q contest ($10 entry fee) Judging Awards Auction and raffle

Colleyville Old Tyme Bar-B-Que Cook-off, Colleyville Center, 5301 Riverwalk Dr., Colleyville 817-503-1264, www.colleyville.com