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Huge BBQ Competition marks the end of 20th anniversary celebration On the third day of the anniversary celebration weekend, Long before the crowds arrived, a bustle of activity began in the Petaluma Market parking lot. Teams of BBQ enthusiasts flocked to the lot at 5:00AM and began their preparation. The final day of the festivities had arrived and the stakes were higher than ever: Sunday June 10 would feature a fierce BBQ competition, the likes of which Petaluma had never seen before. The parking lot of the Petaluma Market likely set a new attendance record that day: Petalumans came out in droves to sample the goods and vote for the best team of all. Though the `Saucy Boys` team would eventually prevail over the competition, the battle for BBQ supremacy was a heated one. All teams received hundreds of votes and, when it came time to place, the results were so close that every vote counted. Clowns, prizes, and complimentary food continued to flow as if uninterrupted from the previous day but with Sunday came a new surprise: back inside the market, every tenth customer was receiving a free gift certificate to local Petaluma businesses (all of which had been generously donated in support of the Anniversary). This was unannounced and seemed a pleasant (if not exhilarating) surprise. By the end of the day, it was anyone’s guess as to who would take home the huge trophy and accompanying bottle of champagne. Would Team Corda’s barbequed apricots stand out and take them to the top? Would Team Grilled Lightning’s custom-made shirts bring them to the top? Would the `Bastards of Beer` or the `Jerks` teams overcome their deprecating nicknames and take home the gold? In the end, it was the highly-lauded
food of the Saucy Boys that took home first place. Second place
went to the Petaluma Marketeers, a troupe of former market employees.
Third place went to the good folks on team K&RBQ. Jim Agius III |
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Packing out the Ballroom at the Petaluma Hotel Invitations were handed out weeks ago at the check out line of the Petaluma Market. A free-flowing buffet of the finest finger food for the masses had clearly been meticulously planned. Wineries lined up to pour their fruity local vintages. Goodie bags, stuffed to the brim. Hundreds of freshly harvested oysters were ordered on the half shell... All that was needed were the crowds, those throngs of loyal customers of the past twenty years and many more who may have only recently moved into the community-minded neighborhood of this West-Side Petaluma grocery mainstay! And crowds there certainly were, weaving clear around the block from the Liberty Street grand entrance of the Petaluma Hotel Ballroom, and onto East Washington. Once inside, a steady stream of hundreds of party-goers at the Market's 20th birthday bash were shoulder to shoulder with butchers, bakers, produce managers, clerks and customers! Petaluma's most familiar doctors, dentists, lawyers and accountants mingled with local old-timers, artists, musicians, winemakers, coffee purveyors, restaurateurs, teachers, politicians, stay-at-home moms, gardeners, cooks, the Mayor and vice-Mayor too.... Although the Petaluma Market is widely known for its philanthropic support of many community organizations within our city, it's unusual for a business to put on such a magnificent spread for its customer base. Against a backdrop of old-Petaluma ballroom glamour, the guests mingled, sipped, munched and swirled and celebrated the fact that there is such a thing as a free meal! No grocery bag strings attached!
Frances Rivetti |
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The Party Continues Preparation for the second day of the celebration began as dawn broke on 210 Western Ave. Generous vendors and event organizers hit the parking lot early and began to transform it into the site of the second day of festivities. Here, many of the market's vendors and friends would generously sample free goods for customers. Hay bales and umbrellas were situated throughout the lot. Burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and drinks were all supplied for patrons (free of charge) as a `thank you` for their twenty years of support. But that wasn't all: For weeks prior to the event, fliers were hung around the store heralding Saturday's festivities as `fun and games, all day!` Clowns walked the streets, a caricature artist painted children, and the number 3 yo-yo master in the world displayed his skills while live music took place at the north end of the lot. In the early afternoon, a spinning wheel of fortune allowed many of the guests to walk away with huge prizes. Gifts from longtime neighbors and associates were doled out to satisfied spinners who got lucky by picking the right number at the right time. From massages to bargeques to smoothies to Giant's tickets, dozens and dozens of prizes were awarded. As the afternoon carried on, the party began to die down. Vendors packed their bags, musicians announced their final songs, and the clowns performedt heir final duties, The time had come to move onto the next phase of the evening. Following an hour-long intermission,
the Peter Welker All-Stars hit the stage and began their three house
set. As the sun went down and the parking lot cooled, Welker and the
band wowed the audience with their mastery of all things musical. Several
hundreds watched the band perform throughout the evening.
Jim Agius III |
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