Tickets are on sale for Shriner barbecue

The annual Tillsonburg Shrine Club Pork Barbecue is the largest food event of the year in Tillsonburg, drawing more than 500 people. Tickets are now on sale for the event. (File Photo).

By Jeff Helsdon

Editor

Tillsonburg’s largest food event of the year is right around the corner.

With the Tillsonburg Shrine Club Pork Barbecue drawing 500-plus people, it’s the kind of event where locals see acquaintances who they haven’t seen in a long time, or friends they just saw a few days ago. This year’s event will be on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Tillsonburg Community Centre’s Memorial Arena.

“It’s a huge networking type thing,” said barbecue chairman Cedric Tomico. “There are always people I haven’t seen in ages, and you always connect back with them. Even for us (Shriner members), there are other Shrine Club members whom we haven’t seen, and we reconnect with them.”

Tickets are $25 for barbecued pork, corn, salads and bread. And there’s the secret barbecue sauce, the ingredients for which sauce master John Danbrook holds close to his chest. The best part is it’s all you can eat.

“As long as you keep your plate with you, you can come back up as many times as you want,” Tomico said.

Last year saw attendees devour more than 1,200 pounds of pork and 50 gallons of barbecue sauce.

The barbecue has been a tradition for 65 years, and is an event many people look forward to each year.

Last year marked the return of the event after a Covid-19 hiatus and a facility availability issue. Although the Shriners tried live entertainment last year, Tomico said club members decided they wouldn’t continue this.

Traditionally, the barbecue was accompanied by a car draw, but Tomico said that is a thing of the past. The car draw hasn’t been done the last few years due to the “cost of the cars has gone up so drastically it’s made that not worthwhile anymore.”

Instead, the club hosts a fish fry in January, featuring an elimination draw. There are 400 tickets printed at a $100 cost and a guaranteed $20,000 grand prize.

Last year saw 500 people in attendance, but historically the event has drawn as many as 1,000 people.

“We’re really trying to grow it bigger,” Tomico said.

Years ago, the event was a stag format for men only, but that is a thing of the past. Wives often accompany their husbands to the pork barbecue. Take-out is also available for the pork lovers at home who aren’t old enough to attend.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $25 in cash, or online at www.tillsonburgshrineclub.com