Grab some napkins and wet wipes and head to the 3rd Annual Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival at Atlantic Station on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 offering food, live entertainment and activities.

The Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival will showcase the many styles, cooking techniques and flavors of barbecue – from chicken and brisket to ribs and pulled pork.

“Last year we were overwhelmed by the turnout and the demand at the festival and we have been working to build an even better event for 2011,” said event founder and president Bob Herndon.

More than 50 barbecue teams from across the country gather to cook up their best “Q” and compete for more than $10,000 in cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights. Both professional and backyard amateur teams will battle to win awards in a variety of cooking categories including whole hog, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, brisket, sauce and more.

Teams will be selling sample sized portions of their championship styled barbecue throughout the weekend for $1 per sample as part of the events People’s Choice Award Contest. The event will also showcase more of Atlanta’s top barbecue restaurants serving up their specialties. There will also be live entertainment, an interactive Kids Area and more.

Teams interested in competing should visit atlbbqfest.com.

Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.