The Wesson Founders’ Day Festival has always been an event fullof sights, sounds and smells, but this year will bring a whole newexperience for the senses when the fun hits the streets April25-26.

“There are a few new twists and turns on Founders’ Day thisyear,” said organizer Jerry Brewer.

One of those twists, Brewer said, is that there will be anamateur barbecue cook-off, open to residents of the area.

“We’re having circuit judges who actually judge the Memphis inMay barbecue contest, and they’ll be judging our amateur cookers,”he said.

Brewer said the cook-off will include leg quarters and porkribs, and there will be awards for the winners. There is an entryfee and barbecue gourmets should provide their own meat.

Brewer said while the cook-off is currently for amateurs, somepeople have hopes it could become a much bigger event.

“If this were to be something that graduates into a professionalcook-off, there are not enough hotels in the area to hold thepeople that would come to participate in this thing,” he said. “Wedon’t know if we want to get to that point, but if we do, it wouldbe a great thing for business in our neighboring towns aswell.”

Brewer said for the first year at least, the contest is justmeant to be fun for everyone involved.

“This year we’re just wanting to showcase our local talent,” hesaid. “It’s just to see who’s a cook, or who thinks theycan cook.”

Organizers are hoping for at least 10 barbecue cook-off teams toparticipate in the event, and ask that anyone interested in being apart of the competition call the Wesson Chamber of Commerce at(601) 643-5000 for information on entry and rules.

Brewer said Friday night will kick off the rest of the Founders’Day Festival, with the gospel singing beginning at 5 p.m. StartingSaturday the booths will be open, and the Deal or No Deal game thatwas such a hit last year will take place.