A nearly-century-long tradition is coming to an end in Charlotte, NC. Organizers of the Mallard Creek Barbecue announced on Oct. 1 that the event, which had been held for 93 years, has been "retired."
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Since 1929, the Mallard Creek Barbecue has been held on the fourth Thursday of October. The food was prepared five minutes from the church's Community House and an hour from Lexington, NC, which we considered one of the nation's best barbecue towns. The funds raised supported the church's local and global missions, as well as its building fund.
Organizers Say the Decision To Cancel the Mallard Creek Barbecue Came With "Heavy Hearts"
In a statement shared with WBTV, organizers reflected on the history of the event while providing scant reasons for bringing it to a close.
"Steeped in history and longtime traditions, it's with heavy hearts to step away," it read. "Generational leadership of the four main components of the BBQ have stepped aside, and our process simply can't sustain the voids. Everything seems to have a life cycle, and for the Mallard Creek BBQ, that life cycle is 93 years."
According to the event website, as word spread of the event, the Mallard Creek Barbecue became known as the "Granddaddy of the Barbecues." Similar events started following its blueprint for success.
That's a Lot of Food
In the early days of the Mallard Creek Barbecue, the smell from the event was so strong that it prompted those from miles around to come watch the food being prepared.
The volunteer-run event grew so large that the County Police and the Sheriff's Department had to handle traffic control. Church members directed parking.
Each year, over 2,500 gallons of coleslaw were prepared on the Saturday before the event. Free coffee was brewed in 60-gallon vats, with about 400 gallons served on the day of the barbecue.
In 1993, all the meat was cooked, chopped, and seasoned over a two-day period leading up to the event. On the event day, sales of individual barbecue pounds averaged around 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, and 10,000 sandwiches were made.
