Things starting to sizzle in Leadington

The sweet aroma of barbecue will be in the air in Leadington starting tonight as the Mighty Missouri Pig Fest kicks off at Sam Scism Ford.

The three-day event will include the Scism Sizzle which will feature three barbecue contests sanctioned by Memphis IN May Inc.

The festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. tonight with an opening ceremony that will commemorate the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

From 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. there will be a fish fry sponsored by the Farmington Wal-Mart Supercenter.

At 6 p.m., registration for the 3-M Talent Show will begin. At 6:30 p.m. the talent show will start. Concessions will be available throughout the event.

The venue will open up at 10 a.m. Friday with the first scheduled event kicking off at 5 p.m.

A sponsors and Route 67 Rod Run Barbecue Dinner as well as a Memphis IN May (MIM) Teams/Cooks Meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. an introduction of the MIM Teams will take place. The Greater St. Louis Festus Hog Chapter Show will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

Karaoke and dancing will start at 7 p.m. at the South Gate and the Soulard Blues Band will begin playing at 8 p.m. on the North Stage.

Saturday’s events will start at 8 a.m. with a Belt Buster Breakfast for the cooking teams and judges. At 10 a.m. the Scism Sizzle will start with Whole Hog Judging.

The band Canyon will begin performing at 10:30 a.m. at the North Gate. At 11:15 a.m. the Pork Shoulder Judging will start and at 12:30 p.m. the Ribs Judging will begin.

At 1 p.m. the Ambush Band will begin performing. At 2 p.m. the Big River Telephone Back Yard Grillers judging will begin with the chicken wings. At 2:30 p.m. the Pork Shoulder judging will begin as well as the Media Smoke Off featuring ribs. At 3 p.m. the ribs judging will start as part of the Big River Telephone Back Yard Griller Contest.

At 5:30 p.m. the MIM Winners’ Awards Ceremony will begin.

The gates will open at 6 p.m. at the St. Francois County Raceway for a concert featuring the Smashband Tailgate Party.

Other events scheduled include the Cici’s Pizza Eating Contest, a Corn-on-the-Cob Eating Contest, a Hog Calling Contest, an Elvis Look-Alike Contest, appearances by the Gold Wing Motorcycle Club, and a Route 67 Rod Run Car Show.