Pulled pork, brisket and ribs — oh my! All kinds of flavorful barbecue meats will be available this weekend during the sixth annual Big Island Bar-B-Que events.

The Big Island State Championship Bar-B-Que on Friday and Saturday will offer more than $14,000 in prizes. The Freeborn County Fairgrounds will be filled with 50 barbecue teams and chili cooks from nine states. The Kansas City Barbecue Society state championship will welcome cooks, musicians, food lovers and families from throughout the region.

More than 30 gallons of chili will be available for public tasting at 6 p.m. Friday night only. Barbecue vendors from area states will be serving ribs, brisket, pulled pork and stuffed potatoes all hours of the event.

Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Barbecue food, funnel cakes, chicken wings, Hawaiian shaved ice and ice cream will be sold by vendors during all the open hours of the state championship. It is free to the public.

 

Friday

• The Clarks Grove Fire Department hosts a boneless pork chop sandwich and sweet corn supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the fire hall. Menu includes pork chop sandwich, sweet corn and pop. Donations will be accepted.

• The Pelican Breeze II hosts a pizza cruise. The cruise leaves at 6 p.m., and reservations are needed by 4 p.m. by calling Albert Lea Parks & Rec at 377-4370. Cost is $20, and Green Mill will be serving food and beverages.

• PEO presents “Cinderella, Cinderella” at 7 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. The show is a short participation play for children. Cost is $10, and proceeds go toward scholarships.

 

Saturday

• The Albert Lea Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon in the North Broadway parking lot.

• A walk-a-thon supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research will be at 1 p.m. in Clarks Grove. Call 507-568-0264 to participate or with questions.

• A bake and craft sale will be from 1 to 5 p.m. at Northbridge Mall. The event is a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer research. Dunnell Lenort will perform.

• The Pelican Breeze II will have a cruise hosted by naturalist and humorist Al Batt at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $15, and reservations are needed by 4 p.m. Friday by calling 377-4370.

• PEO presents two shows of “Cinderella, Cinderella,” at 2 and 7 p.m., at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. The show is a short participation play for children. Cost is $10, and proceeds go toward scholarships.

• The Alden Fire Department Relief Association hosts its annual open house and pork chop and sweet corn feed from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the fire station. Cost for ages 6 and up is $10; children age 5 and younger get a basic hotdog meal for free. Proceeds go to updating equipment for first responders and firefighters.

 

Sunday

• The Freeborn Area Heritage Society will host an American Indian artifacts exhibit and ice cream social starting at 1 p.m. The event is in Freeborn at the Heritage Society Museum. The event is free and open to the public.

• The Pelican Breeze II hosts a public cruise at 1:30 p.m. No reservations are needed, and cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children age 5 and younger.