The 2015 Triple B Cookoff likely attracted 3,000 more attendees than last year's event, according to the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's event organizers.
The Hub City's crown jewel, as far as festivals go, once again drew residents and visitors to Main Street with a can't-miss combination. Barbecue, carnival food, arts and crafts, bands and other entertainment gave families, lovers and others reason enough to go downtown.
I enjoyed the last hour and a half — just a bit incapacitated — with a good friend. I awoke with a sprained wrist the day before and had to wear a splint all of Saturday if I was going to be in full editor mode on Monday! But even that setback couldn't keep me from Pigstickers' delicious sausage and potato salad. Not to mention the carnival-style nachos and cheese. (It's hard to remember the last time I had those!)
Despite coming later, I still heard The Good Lookings perform and had the pleasure of visiting with various vendors and seeing the awards ceremony. (It's always fun to see the hard-working grill masters receive recognition.)
The Triple B is one of those events where you can forget about everything else in life — whether it's a sprained wrist, broken heart or bad day — and just enjoy the moment.
But now it's time for a change in the alphabet: from the B's of Blackwater, bluegrass and barbecue, to the C's.
Well, just one C, really. The big C.
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life is the nonprofit's key fundraiser.
Crestview's Relay For Life committee, of which I'm a member, will present the Hub City's fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, April 24 at Shoal River Middle School.
This month, you'll see cancer-related commentary and feature stories leading up to the event.
Along the way, I encourage you to consider forming a team to raise money for the ACS, walk the track and camp out the full 12 hours. (Learn more about that here>>)
Relay For Life isn't just about walking around a track in a symbolic gesture. Or honoring survivors and remembering those who've died from cancer in solemnity. Nor is it all fun and games (because if you've Relayed, you know there's live entertainment and enough activities to keep everyone up all night).
It's a fundraiser for the ACS, which reportedly has spent $4 billion on cancer research since 1946.
It's an event that literally saves lives.
What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: Shifting thoughts from Triple B to the big C