Foodies and barbeque enthusiasts will have an event to challenge their taste buds this weekend in Vicksburg.

American Legion Post 3 is teaming up with AmeriCorps for The River City BBQ Challenge Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at the pavilion outside Lady Luck Casino, 1380 Warrenton Road.

“Teams are challenged to cook three different meats: chicken, ribs and pulled pork within a specified time,” said Chana Hargrove, program coordinator for Veterans Serving our Military Community at AmeriCorps and executive head chef and owner of Chana The Tattooed Chef.

It costs $5 for the public to enter the event, and everyone will be able to sample each of the cooked meats. Throughout the event, door prizes will be drawn for each hour from a raffle ticket obtained at entry.

A panel of judges will determine the top finishers in a blind judging where they won’t know which team cooked which meat. Based on certain criteria and the taste test, judges will rank the top three places. Guests get a say in the contest as well by placing a token in their favorite team’s jar. First prize is $1,000, second is $500, third is $250 and the people’s choice will win $250.

“Right now we have five teams in the competition and we’re expecting about two to three more teams to enter,” Hargrove said.

To enter a barbecue cooking team into the challenge, an application should be filled out and a $150 entry fee paid Monday, Oct. 19, the deadline to enter. All of the other rules and regulations for teams who enter the contest will be explained on the application.

The proceeds from the event will go toward veterans’ assistance programs in the Vicksburg area and to start a Venturing Crew program. Venturing Crew is a youth development program for students ages 13 or 14 and have completed eighth grade, to 20 where the members learn life skills and is a coed offshoot of the Boy Scouts.

“I’m excited that the American Legion is in the community, helping the community,” Hargrove said.

For more information, call Chana Hargrove 601-218-7485 or email him at chefchana@gmail.com