Glen Ellyn's 14th Annual Backyard BBQ

— This year, summer isn’t over until after Labor Day! The Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ (GEBYBBQ), presented by Real Urban BBQ, returns for its 14th year on Saturday, September 10th. The GEBYBBQ is the largest amateur BBQ contest in the state of Illinois, with 50+ teams competing in Best Ribs, Best Chicken, Best Dish, and Best Sauce. After you have some delicious BBQ from one of our vendors, walk on over to the competition to vote for your favorite BBQ sauce from our competitors and get tips from the home-chef pros.

Plenty of great vendors, including Real Urban BBQ, Steamboat BBQ, Route 38 BBQ, Nothin’ Bundt Cakes, Two Brothers Brewery, will be there offering various kinds of BBQ, cakes and treats, ice cream, cold beer and more. There will be activities for the entire family, including Piglet Playland with host Mary Macaroni, children’s enthusiast, along with t-shirt painting, bounce houses, and delicious treats for the kids. Plus, there will be a dunk tank and live music for everyone to enjoy! “The BBQ is thrilled to welcome some terrific bands like Hillbilly RockStarz and perennial favorite Panic at the Costco,” says Bridge Communities Senior Director, Amy Van Polen.

“In 13 years, we have gone from a neighborhood barbeque to one of the most anticipated events in Glen Ellyn and raised over $380,000 to help families in DuPage County that are facing homelessness,” says GEBYBBQ co-chair Bob Solak. “BBQ, bands, and beer, what's not to like? We have something for everyone; Awesome BBQ, great bands, super fun kids play area, beer and the largest amateur BBQ contest in the State of Illinois.”

A BBQ this big can only exist with the help of volunteers! Therefore, we need over 200 volunteers to help make this event possible. There are shifts ranging from 6:00am – 10:30pm. Sign up today!

Mark your calendars now, the GEBYBBQ is open to the public from 12:00pm – 9:30 pm on Saturday, September 10th and will be located in downtown Glen Ellyn in the parking lot next to the Glen Ellyn Public Library locate at Duane and Lorraine. Prospect in Glen Ellyn. If you would like to volunteer, be a judge, sign up for the competition or want more information, you can visit www.glenellynbackyardbbq.org, or email us at [email protected]

Bridge Communities is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide housing, mentoring and supportive services to homeless families in DuPage County. Bridge Communities’ vision is a community where all families have safe, sustainable and affordable housing and life-long self-sufficiency. In the past 30 years, Bridge Communities has helped more than 850 families cross the bridge from homelessness to hope and self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.bridgecommunities.org.