HAM-JAM Off to Highly Successful Start

(WITH PRIMITIVE SHADING OF THE CAMERA FROM THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE, YOU CAN GET SOME IDEA OF THE CROWD ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE ABOUT 6:30PM)

It was the perfect combination of great weather, great food, great music and great competition as EffingHAM-JAM for 2018 got off to a great start Friday evening.

Hundreds of people visited the downtown area to sample barbecue cooking and enjoy music from several bands. Various other food vendors and activities for kids and adults made for a fun time.

(EVEN IGUANAS WERE FOUND DOWNTOWN ON THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM LAWN. MEET "PIPSQUEAK")

Friday night featured two competitions: the Hometown Throwdown, and the Corporate Challenge. Throwndown contestants included Two Drunk Guys, Porking Lot Smokers, Smokin Hippies and Rubbed Raw BBQ. Corporate Challenge participants included Koerner Distributor, Farmweld, CASA of Effingham County, and Weis Insurance.

Saturday will be the day for the professional barbecuers. 33 teams will be in Effingham from Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota and from all over Illinois. A purse of more than $6,000 will be available.

Other activities will include a Pigs and Pancakes Breakfast from 8 to 10am at the corner of Washington and 4th; an open mic event from 8am to noon on the stage at Jefferson and 4th; a Kids Activity Area on the south Courthouse lawn near the Veterans Memorial; a Dairy Queen dilly bar eating contest at 2pm for kids and adults; and bumper cars for children and adults on 4th Street north of Washington Avenue.