HOPE — As founder Jeff Yarnell sees it, the only thing that sizzled more than the barbecue at the annual Smoke On the Square fundraiser Friday and Saturday on the historic Hope Town Square were the efforts of chief volunteers such as cook Dan Erickson, lead judge Tom Cuneo, and Chelsea Warriner.
Warriner is executive director of the nonprofit Community Center of Hope that will receive an approximate $7,000 from the food, music and activities event. The center offers education programs that fill the needs of children ranging from six weeks to sixth grade. They provide early learning programs, before/after school, and summer camp. The Community Center also is the home to a food pantry.
About 1,200 people attended the weekend event, which organizers deemed a significant success.
The event’s record fundraising was $9,200 in 2017 when 31 barbecue teams competed and an estimated 1,300 people attended. Yarnell launched the fundraiser as a single-day event in 2011 to support the center. He currently serves as president of its board of directors. The event was expanded to two days in 2016 and is among the state’s largest non-sanctioned event of its kind in the state.
The festivities include a range of vendors selling everything from desserts to crafts. Live music this year included Night Owl Country Band, which has a substantial area following.
Smoke On the Square’s success has led Yarnell to work with other entities across the state to launch similar gatherings, even though that sometimes has meant fewer teams competing locally.
“I think this year means that things are solid (again) and growing,” Yarnell said, adding that the fundraiser has gradually seen people return to the gathering post-COVID.
Many other area nonprofit leaders have been saying much the same the past few years.
Yarnell said that he was extremely pleased that the food sold out on Saturday about an hour earlier than last year.
Grand Champion during the barbecue contest that included categories of pork, ribs, brisket and chicken among 13 teams, including five new ones, was Roni’s Ribs of San Bernadino, Calif. Reserve grand champion for the second straight year was Greg Lane of Huey’s Heavenly Hog Barbecue in Bedford.
