Fans blanket Pigz

Organizers of the Pigz in Z'hills BBQ & Blues Fest were pleasantly surprised last year when 2,500 to 3,000 people showed up for the inaugural affair.

This year, attendance increased by nearly one-third, said Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event at Krusen Field.

Saturday's barbecue competition, overseen by the Florida Barbecue Association, drew 39 teams, including 26 professional outfits, up from a total of 13 teams last year.

"We actually had to turn down teams this year," Mikkelsen said, "We could have had as many as 50 or 60, but we're not necessarily running on the thought that more is better at this point. If we added any more, we'd have to move to a different location, and we're not sure we want to do that.

"We might be able to lay the venue out differently, but we're OK with it staying about the same number of teams. We think we have a good formula."

Earning the grand prize of $1,400 in the professional barbecue division was Big Papa's Country Kitchen of Naples. Okeechobee's Git-R-Smoked team took second place and a $1,000 prize.

In the backyard competition, in which no cash prizes were awarded, the Smokin' J's team from Detroit won first place for atmosphere and presentation, Pigsilly of Wesley Chapel earned first place for team spirit and sportsmanship, and the crowd pleaser award went to Sick & Twisted of Wesley Chapel.

The Tampa Tribune is a sponsor of the event, which benefits the chamber's scholarship fund and educational programs.

Competition judge George Kendall said the festival "went over really big."

"It was great," said the Zephyrhills man, a barbecue aficionado who judges at competitions statewide.

"The judges were happy. … They were so attentive to us. We didn't want for water or ice. They even had doughnuts and coffee for us in the morning.

"The music was very good, too," Kendall said.

Mikkelsen said organizers might boost next year's entertainment offerings. She was impressed with singer Julie Black, whose band headlined the event.

"She was just awesome," Mikkelsen said. "She just really rocked it. She's got the kind of voice that you just can't compare with anyone else. All I care about is when someone speaks to me through their music, and that's what she did."