Well, it’s finally here. It’s Barbecue weekend here in tiny Lynchburg. RVs and barbecue rigs fill Wiseman Park. Vendors are setting up on the historic Lynchburg Square. In less than 24 hours, our tiny hamlet will swell to double its normal population as folks from the surrounding counties, state, and across the U.S. descend on Lynchburg for the 34th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue or The Jack.

Despite your best efforts, you won’t be able to do everything over the next two days. So, we’ve put together a list of the things you must do on Friday and Saturday to enjoy a quintessential Barbecue weekend here in Lynchburg.

1 | The Parade of Teams on Friday — Yes, the majority of public activities surrounding The Jack happen on Saturday but there’s one Friday event that always stands out to us, the Parade of Teams around the historic Lynchburg Square. It’s giving Mardi Gras parade vibes as numerous teams throw out flags and favors. It’s always the unofficial kick off to Barbecue weekend.

2 | Check out live music by Caitlyn Wolaver | Last year aspiring local singer, songwriter Caitlyn Wolaver hit a milestone when event organizers asked her to sing the National Anthem. Then in a rotten twist of fate, Wolaver came down with COVID the day of the event. No worries. She’ll be back this year to perform on the Lynchburg Square Stage at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The Lynchburg gal sings country with a healthy pop influence. She released her first single, Attention, on Apple Music this year. {To read our interview with her last year, click here.}

3| The Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull | In June, the Lynchburg Chamber hosted its first ever Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull during Frontier Days and to say it was a hit with the kiddos is an understatement. Boys and girls from Lynchburg and all over had an absolute blast pedaling tricycle tractors with a miniature weighted sled. So, the Chamber will repeat the event for the Jack Daniel’s Barbecue. Head to the Tennis Courts in Wiseman Park around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday if your kids would like to participate.

4 | The Homemade Pie Auction on Saturday | It’s a well-known fact to those who live in Lynchburg that a dedicated group of local historians work numerous volunteer hours to make sure not one drop of local history gets lost around here. The Moore County Historical Society has become an unofficial sister organization to the Moore County Archive. Their official Facebook page contains hundreds of photos, documents, and other relics that tell not only the story of the distillery but also the town of Lynchburg. You can support them in the most delicious way possible at the Homemade Pie (and maybe a few cakes too) Auction in Wiseman Park at 3 p.m.

5| Whole Hog and Whole Gator Cooking Demonstration | Everyone comes to Lynchburg with barbecue on their minds but teams competing for the $25,000 grand prize play it pretty close to the vest. You can’t really watch them cook. But if you head to Wiseman Park on Saturday around noon, you can watch the Jack Daniel Barrelhouse Smokers cook a whole hog. There will also be a Gator Cooking Demonstration in the same spot at 1 p.m. You might even get a sample. Look for them right next to Moorehead Pavilion.

6| Buy a bottle at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop | What’s a visit to Lynchburg without leaving with a little local product? This week a little birdie told us that there might just be some surprises in store for those who pop by the White Rabbit Bottle Shop located inside the Jack Daniel Visitor’s Center. “There may or may not be a large quantity of Sinatra Select available,” they told us. It will also be the last chance to scoop up the last of the most recent Distillery Series bottles too. As always, they will sell bottle of Gentleman Jack embossed with this year’s Barbecue logo.

Event activities will include original games such as the Country Dog Contest and Bung and Bag Toss competitions. Games begin Saturday at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Tours of the Jack Daniel Distillery from the Visitor Center will also be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Barbecue judging starts at 11:30 a.m., and the awards presentation will take place at 5 p.m.

Admission to the 34th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue is a voluntary donation to the Moore County school system. To learn more, check out The Jack’s Facebook page for news and updates. Or stay tuned to The Lynchburg Times this week as we publish our annual Insider’s Guide to the Jack Daniel’s Barbecue. •

{The Lynchburg Times is a nonpartisan, independent community newspaper serving Lynchburg, Tennessee and the surrounding counties. We are dedicated to public service journalism for the greater good of our community. You can support us, by clicking here.}