Strap on a bib, slip into your dancing shoes and make your way to the 11th annual South Texas Music Fest – Chili and Barbecue Cook-off on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Benefiting the Jody McCormick Vocational Scholarship Fund, barbecue pit crews will compete for best chili, barbecue brisket, pork spare ribs, chicken and pinto beans while live musical entertainment fills the air.

Sponsored by Sharkeys Beach Club, 2600 State Hwy. 361, those wishing to compete in the CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International)- sanctioned chili cook-off, International Barbecue Cookers Association (IBCA) barbecue cook-off and the bean cook-off may begin registering tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 7. Sign-up is set for 7 to 9 p.m. and will continue Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Those wishing to preregister may stop by the club or call 749-4254. All head cooks must attend a cook’s meeting on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Entry fees are $20 per team for the chili cook-off, $35 for the brisket, $15 each for pork spare ribs and half a chicken, and $10 for the jackpot bean cook-off. Judging will be held between noon and 3 p.m., depending on the category.

Grounds open to spectators at 3 p.m. and no admission is charged. For a donation that goes to the scholarship fund, spectators may sample the mouth-watering, tasty treats.

Trophies and ribbons are awarded for best entries and showmanship beginning at 5 p.m. A trophy also will be awarded in the barbecue division for Grand Slam Best All-Around. A People’s Choice trophy will be awarded in the chili and barbecue divisions to the team that raises the most money for the scholarship fund.

Chili cooks will be striving to earn points that will allow them to compete at the Terlingua Chili Cook-off.

A ribbon will go to the first place bean cooking team and also the team that travels the farthest to the competition. RV’s are welcome, but no hookups are available.

Live music by Victims of Circumstance, Blake Sparks and Goodnight Avenue will keep the groove going outside all day. Entertainment will continue into the evening inside with Shark Attack, along with Todd Dorn and the Seadrifters and Luke Huggins. Evening admission is $8 for those 21 and over and $15 for those 18 to 20.

The event provides scholarships in McCormick’s name for graduating seniors at Port Aransas High School. McCormick was owner of Sharkeys and nightclubs around the state prior to his death in 2006.