The Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off is heating up again, and this year’s event has a special reason to celebrate. The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation announced that Foley High School student Soledad Sanchez won the 2026 T-shirt Design Contest. Her artwork will be printed on the official event shirt and showcased throughout the festival. Organizers say Sanchez’s creativity captured the lively spirit of Foley’s biggest spring tradition.

The 18th Annual Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off, presented by RiverView Turf, will be held on Saturday, March 14, at Heritage Park in downtown Foley. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a full day of tasty barbecue, live music, craft vendors, and family activities. Admission is $15, with free entry for children 12 and under.

Each year, students from 14 schools supported by the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation are invited to submit original artwork for the T-shirt contest. The top 25 designs, including the winning piece by Sanchez, will be on display for festivalgoers. Attendees can view the artwork while sampling award-winning barbecue or browsing the craft and retail booths.

The cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and will feature over 30 backyard division teams from across the Gulf Coast. Competitors will fire up their grills in hopes of winning the Grand Championship title and other prizes. The team that collects the most People’s Choice donations will also receive a special traveling trophy to display at their business for the year.

Visitors can enjoy BBQ samples starting at 11 a.m., while live music fills the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The stage lineup includes performances by Foley High School bands, Chitlin Switch, and The Defrosters. The Cook Team Awards Ceremony will begin at 4 p.m., ending a day of music, food, and community fun.

The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation, which hosts the event, uses the proceeds to support local education programs. For over 20 years, the nonprofit has worked to enrich learning, foster leadership, and improve students' quality of life across Baldwin County. Organizers say the BBQ & Blues Cook Off is one of the year's most anticipated events, combining great food with a noble cause.