Parks and Rec to host BBQ cook-off

The City of Odessa Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Odessa Jackalopes, will be hosting its inaugural BBQ Master’s & Cornhole Bracket Battle on March 18 at the Ector County Coliseum.

This event will feature March Madness tailgating with hospitality tents and five large-screen TVs for guests to watch their favorite college basketball team, the press release detailed. The tailgating section is free and open to the public, and the Jackalopes will have concession stands available for guests.

The event will also feature a BBQ cook-off sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association — one of the first for the Parks and Recreation Department. BBQ teams can cook three types of meat in the cook-off and will be competing for over $4,000 worth in prizes.

Teams will also receive four tickets to the Jackalopes games that night courtesy of Odessa Jackelopes.

BBQ cook-off

The entry fee for the BBQ tournament is $150 for all meat categories. There will only be 31 spots for the cook-off. Teams can be any size. The tray pickup and cooks meeting will happen 7 p.m. Friday.

Turn-in time on Saturday.

>> 12:00 p.m. Chicken

>> 1:30 p.m. Pork Spare Ribs

>> 3:00 p.m. Brisket

Meats to be cooked

>> Half Chicken (complete with wing, breast, thigh, and leg)

>> Pork Spare Ribs (8 individual pork spare ribs)

>> Brisket (8 full slices)

Cornhole Tournament

This event also features a cornhole tournament where guests of any skill level are welcome to join the cornhole tournament for $30 and compete for some great prizes.

Registration starts at 8:15 a.m., and the tournament begins at 9:00 a.m.

1st Place Prize: Custom Cornhole Boards.

2nd Place Prize: Cornhole Bags and a $75 Gift Card.

3rd Place Prize: $50 Gift Card.

Proceeds from the BBQ cook-off and cornhole tournament will benefit the City of Odessa Parks Foundation.