From the Mercury News...and svbbq.com

Soon the mouth-watering aroma of ribs and brisket will be wafting over Central Park.

One of the West Coast’s largest barbecue competitions — the Rotary Club-sponsored Silicon Valley BBQ Championships — will take over that Santa Clara venue this Friday and Saturday with slow-smoked meats, hot music and shaded beer tents.

On Friday, June 21, you can chat up the pitmasters from 4 to 10 p.m. and get some tips from them on cooking low and slow. People’s choice samples will be available, and the food court will be open. Live music by Phil in the Blanks and the Houserockers is planned from 5 to 10 p.m.

The big day is Saturday, June 22, when about 50 professional teams will compete, and many of them will sell tastes to the public. The 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. event also will feature a Food Alley with barbecue platters from local restaurants. Live music starts at 11 a.m. with Cocktail Monkeys, followed by Michael Beck and Cisco Kid.

Ride VTA's 57 or 81 bus lines (the latter serving downtown San Jose and Mountain View) to the big BBQ event. Get off the the bus at the Kiley and Kaiser stop, across the street from Central Park and the festivities.