River City Smoke Show combines BBQ, bourbon and country music

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —

UPDATE: The event has reopened after bad weather.

Downtown Jacksonville will host the River City Smoke Show for the first time, where you’ll get to taste some barbecue food, try some bourbon, and listen to some live country music.

Gates will open at Metropolitan Park at 5 p.m. on Friday night, and they will remain open through 10 p.m. Plus, you’re going to meet some very special firefighters helping cook all of the food up.

”Good brotherhood, hanging out with each other,” said Matthew Johnson, who belongs to the team of firefighters known as Wild West 31 Barbecue Team, and they’re sponsored by their Local Union 122.

”The camaraderie of hanging out with the guys. And get to meet so many new people,” Chris Tipto says about what he enjoys the most.

They’re here cooking up some food to support local charities.

”We did 11 cases of wings that ended up being 5,200 wings and 550 pounds of coleslaw and 850 pounds of baked beans,” said firefighter Kyle Parham.

They’re also teaming up with legends like barbecue hall of fame inductee Tuffy Stone. ”They’re pros because we worked on this whole event,” Stone said. “It just became a collaboration and we’re here to make the food together.”

Sugar Fire is providing ribs. The Bearded Pig is in charge of the brisket, and Southern BBQ is bringing the pork. A portion of the proceeds from these meals goes to charities, like the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

”We send kids that have special needs to camps with that money,” Tipton explained.

These firefighters are ready to serve their community, this time with a plate of some good ol’ southern comfort food.

”We get to see people in rough situations,” Tipton pointed out. “But out here, we get to have everyone in a happy situation, you know, enjoying barbecue.”

Tomorrow there will be a country music concert here on this stage with artists like Jon Pardi.

The difference between today and tomorrow is today the event is free but tomorrow you will have to pay $49 a ticket and that goes up to $150 for VIP.

You can find more event info here.

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