The Sautee Nacoochee Center will be fired up this weekend for the Hillbilly BBQ Throwdown.

The two-day festival begins Friday, highlighted by the Georgia BBQ Competition event Saturday. Several professional teams will compete for bragging rights as the weekend’s best barbecue, as well as a $7,000 purse.

The Hillbilly BBQ Throwdown is one of 12 Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned events that make up the Georgia BBQ Competition.

The competition continues as local teams battle it out for the King of the Grill Backyard Cook Competition. Youngsters can vie for recognition in the Kid’s Q hamburger challenge cookoff for ages 6 to 15.

Visitors can enjoy samplings of competitors’ barbecue, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, live music, food and drink from several vendors throughout both days.

Friday’s activities will be free and include a preview and an inside look at the pro teams making preparations for the competition. There will be a screening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" that evening.

Saturday’s admission is $5. The day’s activities include the multiple barbecue contests. Admission includes one sampling ticket, with additional tickets on sale for $1 each, $5 for eight tickets or sample all for $10. Samplers can then vote on the People’s Choice Award.

Proceeds from the Throwdown will benefit the United Way of White County and Sautee Nacoochee Community Association. The festival will take place from 5-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee.

For more information on the event, visit www.hillbillyhogbbq.com. For more information on the Georgia BBQ competition, visit www.georgiabbqchampionship.com.