HARRINGTON –– It was such a hit last year that the Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festival will return for a second time to the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington today and Saturday.

The event, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, attracted 9,000 attendees last year and this year will feature 112 barbecue masters from all over the country, the farthest hailing from Hawaii, all vying for $17,000 in prize money.

Chris Young, owner of Mr. Bar-B-Que Pit Stop in Milford, cooks up some his trademark cuisine for attendees of last year’s Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festival at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. This year’s event runs today and Saturday. (Delaware State News file photo by Dave Chambers)[/caption]

Winners last year included the grand champions Aporkalypse Now from Virginia, and reserve champions Finn’s Finest BBQ of Middletown, who also claimed the Delaware state title. Both will be defending their titles this weekend.

Multiple contests will be held over the two days, including wing and pulled pork, both official awards judged by more than 130 certified barbecue judges and people’s choice awards, judged by the attendees.

Attendees can vote in the People’s Choice Contest by purchasing ticket packs of five good for five samples (five wings today or five pulled pork samples Saturday) and one People’s Choice vote.

Wings for today’s People’s Choice Wing Tasting were donated by Mountaire Farms and the competition will start at 6 p.m. The People’s Choice Pulled Pork Tasting will begin at noon Saturday.

But the food isn’t the only attraction this year.

Danny Aguilar, assistant general manager of the Delaware State Fair, new aspects have been added, including live music, beer, wine, rides and demonstrations.

Sixteen breweries, with more than 48 craft beers, will be available for sampling. Tickets are $25 for 10 samples and a commemorative glass guaranteed for the first 1,000 customers.

Extra tickets can be purchased in $10 strips of five tickets.

Brewers include Blue Point Brewing Company, Dominion Brewing Company, Duclaw Brewing Company, Evolution Craft Brewing Company, Fordham Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company, Harpoon Brewery, Mispillion River Brewing, Redhook Brewery, Samuel Adams, Shiner Beers, Sly Fox Brewing Company, Widmer Brothers Brewing and Yards Brewing Company.

The wine tasting will feature more than a dozen options of vino from local producers Fenwick Wine Cellars, Harvest Ridge, Nassau Valley Vineyards, and Pizzadili Winery. Tickets for the tasting are $10 and include five samples.

Although libations are a big part of Saturday’s events, kids are welcome to attend and enjoy kid-friendly drink and dining options in the Food Court as well as a petting zoo and carnival.

The carnival will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. Wristbands for unlimited riding are $25.

“I think this will be a good opportunity for people to get out because everyone’s been looking forward to warm weather and getting out of the house after a long winter,” Mr. Aguilar said.

Admission to the Triple Threat BBQ is $5 (free for kids 12 and under) and includes live music, cooking demonstrations and access to vendors.

Smyrna’s own Sol Knopf will kick off the music today at 4 p.m. with The Funsters at 6:30 p.m. Scheduled to perform Saturday are The Clifford Keith Band at 10 a.m., Hung Jury at 12:30 p.m., Smokin’ Gunnz at 3 p.m. and Lower Case Blues at 6 p.m.

Cooking demonstrations include a Chix, Swine & Bovine BBQ wing cooking setup and a pulled pork cooking demo by Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ.

A full schedule of events is available online at delawarestatefairgrounds.com.