Barbecue competition is back in Brookhaven this weekend with the 11^th annual Hog Wild BBQ and Family Festival.

The festival raises funds for some of Lincoln County’s volunteer fire departments, as well as three charities — TEAM Autism, Alzheimer’s of Mississippi and Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society. It takes $6,500 to outfit a single firefighter every year.

The BBQ fun begins Friday at 4 p.m. with the Steak Cookoff Association competition. Awards will be presented at 9:30 p.m. with a total payout of $2,900. Applications for the contest must be completed through the SCA website and entry fee is $160. About 20 teams had registered to compete by midweek.

The Kids’ Q Contest is also Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. Teams compete in one of two groups — age 6-10 or 11-16 — and must provide their own ribeyes and supplies. Meats can be cooked on any heat source. Entry fee is $25 and cash and other prizes will be awarded.

Saturday cooking begins early for Kansas City Barbecue Society teams. The KCBS Contest has an entry fee of $275 and a total payout of $9,000. Teams will be supplied a Boston butt to cook and turn in by 9 a.m. Saturday.

Teams must enter the four main contest categories of chicken, pork ribs, pork, and beef brisket in order to be eligible for Grand and Reserve Grand Champion. Thirty-three teams had registered as of Wednesday morning.

Food and other vendors will offer goods and eats Saturday, including VFD members selling ribeye plates and pulled pork fries. Ribeye plates with regular fries will also be sold Friday beginning at lunch time.

A People’s Choice Tent will open Saturday from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. For $5 each, members of the public can taste all they want and vote on a People’s Choice winner.

Kids’ inflatables will be available 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday for $5 per child, and live music will be performed 1-4 p.m.

Teams can continue to register right up until time to start cooking, according to organizer and Brookhaven firefighter Mark Porter.

For more information, call Porter at 601-757-1772 or email brookhavenhogwildjudgges@gmail.com.