Something is brewing in Norco in the coming week and it smells like a great time.

On May 31 and June 1, known to many as Horsetown, USA will be the center of the barbecue universe as the 8th annual Brew n’ Que Festival takes place with chefs from around the country showcasing their abilities for the community.

Located at the Ingalls Event Center, the two-day event begins on Friday with a “Meat and Greet” panel discussion featuring renowned food writer and culinary historian Adrian Miller. The two-time winner of the coveted James Beard Award and NAACP Image Award nominee will share stories and knowledge that will be sure to captivate the audience. Oh, and there will be food. Just before the discussion, which features Miller, Rod Gray of the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and celebrity chef and Barbecue Pitmaster Harry Soo, some lip-smacking good barbecue will be available for tasting and making your absent friends jealous. In addition to the great food is the brew in Brew n’ Que which features many local craft beers, including Norco Brewing Company, Main Street, Grey Wolf, and Cerveza Cito.

But the main event of the weekend is Saturday, June 1. That is when the barbecue competition gets fierce. Four different competitions will leave the air smelling like sweet meat and will feature the next generation of pitmasters. The Kid’s Q competition is where kid chefs 10 and under will square off for a panel of judges, while the Junior Q category are for ages 11-16. The mission of youth contests is to support youth in their quest to learn to cook and barbecue in a safe and fair competition.

Event organizer Debbie Yopp explains why she started Brew n’ Que, “I started adding the barbecue component of special events because I thought — number one it’s America’s pastime, and number two you just can’t be mad at anybody when you’re eating barbecue. So I thought this would be a wonderful way for people to connect and have a common ground.”

In addition to the kid’s competition, there are two adult competitions, as well. The Backyard Cook and the Pro team categories are available for barbecue cooks of different experience levels. The Backyard Cook is for chefs who feel they need more preparation for the professional competitions because they lack experience in competitions. Then there is the main event, the Pro series. The best of the best competitors will compete to win the coveted titles of Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion (runner-up) and cash prizes.

This is not only about the food and beer. This is a community event for the entire family. There will be music, games, and a petting zoo.

Yopp explains, “I live in Norco and thought this would be an opportunity for me to try to bring something to the community that’s a little different and going back to my diversity-driven approach to just bring people together.”

The final piece of the amazing collection of fun and good vibes will come from the music. An eclectic and diverse group of talented artists that will satisfy any palate. Old-school rhythm and blues group Lakeside will be taking the crowd on a “Fantastic Voyage” and singing more of the hits that represent their more than 50 years in the business. Grammy award-nominated blues artist Ray Brooks, Country hybrid group Paul Chesne Band, and Brad Johnson and the Killin’ Time Band will make the voyage complete.

So visit the Horsetown Brew n’ Que Festival for the food and music, stay because it’s just a great community event with tremendously good vibes.