HAM JAM This Weekend

The 2016 EffingHAM JAM Cookoff is set for Friday evening and Saturday afternoon in downtown Effingham.

Friday's highlights include a "Hometown Throwdown" featuring chefs from the area in a local barbecue competition. Tastings will begin at 5:30pm and will continue while supplies last. The event is sponsored by Martin's IGA. 

Wine and beer tasting is planned from 5 to 10pm, sponsored by Patton Printing and Walnut Street Weddings. 

Music will be featured, including Killborn Alley Blues from 5-7pm, and Blind Rebel from 7:30-9:30pm.

Ninety 10 Sports will present a Neon Nights 5K and 1 Mile Walk with registration at 6:30pm and the start of the event at 7pm.

On Saturday, the Official Kansas City Barbecue Society barbecue competition will run from noon to 2pm. Wine and beer tasting is again planned from noon to 4pm. 

There will be plenty of activities for the kids including Power Wheels and Bounce Houses from 1 to 3pm sponsored by Civil Design and a Kids Barbecue competition from 2 to 4pm sponsored by The Equity. A DQ Eating Contest is scheduled from 2 to 3pm sponsored by Dairy Queen. 

Music will be featured, too, including the Stew-Stras High School Band at noon, the FACE Orchestra at 12:30pm, the band "Whiskey Bend" at 1pm, and the Garrett Biggs Band at 2pm.

Award winners will be announced around 4:30pm.

Other events will include a grill giveaway sponsored by the Chamber Ambassadors, the weekly Farmers Market on the Courthouse lawn from 8 to noon Saturday, and the Courthouse Museum open for tours Saturday from 10am to 2pm.