City Spotlight on Winder: Countdown has Begun for Jug Tavern Festival

Bearing the same name by which the city of Winder was originally founded in the early 1800s, The Jug Tavern Festival and BBQ Cookoff pays tribute to a long-standing and colorful history of community, good food, good music and good times over the course of a fun-filled weekend.

The festival will be held from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.

During the two-day event, the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cookoff promises to send the heavenly aroma of slow-cooked barbeque wafting up into the air right along with the sound of live music from the Trax Side Stage.

If barbeque isn’t your cup of sweet tea, there will be plenty of other food vendors on hand to satisfy just about any festival food craving. While car and tractor enthusiasts peruse the Dixie Cruisers Car and Tractor Show, shoppers can wander around the arts and crafts displays to see if there’s an item or two (or three or four …) they simply can’t live without.

Kids will have a blast in their own play area bouncing in the inflatables, taking part in pony rides and so much more.

Jug Tavern Festival Schedule of Events

Friday

• 5 to 6 p.m. — Jeremy Wells performs
• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. — Double Clutch and the Downshifters take the stage

Saturday            

• 7 a.m. — Late Registration for the Jug Tavern Race ($25 5K/$10 Fun Run)
• 8 a.m. — 5K Race/Walk
• 9 a.m. — 1 Mile Fun Run
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Dixie Cruisers Car and Tractor Show
• 10 to 11 a.m. — Young America performs
• 11 a.m. to noon — Veronika Jackson performs
• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — The Jug Tavern Square Dancers kick up their heels
• 2 to 3 p.m. — Catherine Kimbro performs
• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Hard Labor Creek performs
• 5 to 6 p.m. — National BBQ Awards are announced
• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — 7 Day Fool performs
• 8 to 10 p.m. — Brother Pudge takes the stage
• 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks

The event planning team at the city of Winder is always on the lookout for volunteers, so if you're interested in taking part in the Jug Tavern Festival as a volunteer, contact event manager John Janick by calling 678-425-9082 or e-mail john.janick@comcast.net. It's a great way to help your community and get a behind-the-scenes look at all of the fun. To learn more about this great event, visit the website online or become a fan on Facebook.

Check back every Friday for a new City Spotlight on Winder.