3RD ANNUAL BBQ AND BLUES!

WHEN: Vendors will have food available at 11 a.m. Friday. Pro-teams start cooking at 6 p.m. Friday with the festival and tastings from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Riverfront Park, 401 River Edge Blvd., Cocoa Village

COST: Free admission; tastings are $5

INFO: Call 321-631-9075 or visit www.visitcocoavillage.com.

THE STORY: More than 40 professional teams will showcase their rib-stickin’ barbecue this weekend in Cocoa Village as the third annual BBQ & Blues kicks off Friday and Saturday at Riverfront Park.

Sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, the judges will pick the best sauce, best dessert and “anything butt” (pork butt). But don’t feel left out; guests can play along and vote for people’s choice.

Last year, the barbecue competition was open to amateurs, with 34 teams participating. This time around, it’s all pro.

Hosted by the Historic Cocoa Village Merchants Association, features include entertainment, a pub crawl, vendors and arts and crafts. Admission is free.

“We all do this because we love this area. We love the downtown,” said BBQ & Blues organizer Emma Kirkpatrick, president of the merchants association and general manager of Ossorio Bakery and Cafe.

As far as attendance, “the first year was amazing,” she said. “Last year, we got rained out both days. We still had 8,000 to 10,000 over the two days. We’re expecting another 10,000 this year.”

Josh Miller sets up the other half of the BBQ & Blues festival, scoring a headlining appearance by blues musician Damon Fowler. Other blues bands on tap are Matt Rossman, a one-man band who, Kirkpatrick said, was most recently on stage at nearby Cocoa Village Playhouse for “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” the Betty Fox Band, the Shaun Rounds Band, and Josh Miller’s Blues Revue. The music kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Magic Dove Magic Shop will host Friday night’s entertainment. You can see a stiltwalker, unicyclist and kids doing magic. There’s no kids zone Friday night, but there will be one Saturday. Expect a bounce house, Shetland ponies, a petting zoo and some surprises.

The fountains will be on, Kirkpatrick said, so kids can bring their bathing suits and towels, and parents can bring their lawn chairs. Pets are welcome, but leave the coolers at home.

Part of the proceeds will go toward the Brevard Schools Foundation’s music program.