PHOTO GALLERY: Barbecue competition fills gullets while supporting local charities

Hawgin' on Lanier, a community festival built around a cash-prize BBQ competition, took place on Saturday at Laurel Park in Gainesville.

In addition to the mouthwatering barbecue, there were plenty of inflatable slides and bounces for the children, vendors and live music for the whole family to enjoy.

The barbecue competition was broken up in to two divisions, the Public Safety division, made up of firefighters, police officers and other public workers, and the Backyard division. Three entries were required for each competitor (chicken, ribs and pork) with the highest total score earning the Grand Champion award.

The Grand Champion for the Public Safety division was Gary Moore of the Hall County Sheriff's Office.

The Grand Champion for the Backyard division was Stan "The Man" of Team Bite Me.

Hawgin' On Lanier is a fundraiser to support the Gainesville Jaycees and their Gut Check program and Empty Stocking Fund charities.

Team Bite Me's first place winning pork in the Backyard division.

Team Bite Me's ribs and chicken, both third place category winners in the Backyard division of the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Stan "The Man" of Team Bite Me proudly holds his third place winning ribs.

A smoker used in the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Much of the meat is cooked with naturally burning firewood to give it a smoky flavor.

A smoker used in the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

The Clermont Smokers pulling apart a pork butt.

Jimmy Williams (left) and Vic Mills of Murrayville Smokers standing above their mouthwatering meat.

The 'wrecking ball' inflatable, an activity where up to four children hurl an inflated ball back and forth in an attempt to knock each other down.

It wasn't all barbecue at Hawgin' on Lanier as there were also many activities for the children to enjoy.

Volunteers serving food at the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

An inflatable slide at the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

A much larger inflatable slide at the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Vendors were also out for the Hawgin' on Lanier event.

Dairy Queen made an appearance at the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Jimmy Williams (left) and Vic Mills of Murrayville Smokers holding up their third place trophy for chicken in the Public Safety division of the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Clermont Smokers holding up their second place trophy for chicken in the Public Safety division of the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

The two Gainesville City firefighter teams holding up their category awards at the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Gary Moore with his first place chicken, first place ribs, second place pork and overall Grand Champion award for the Public Safety division of the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Stan "The Man" of Team Bite Me with his Grand Champion award for the Backyard division of the Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition, as well as his first place pork and third place ribs and chicken trophies at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Snow Cones were served to work off those heat sweats and meat sweats at the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

This child looks to knock down his competition during the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

Chris Hulsey (left) and Doug Adam of Clermont Smokers, a team made up of Hall County firefighters.

Murrayville Smokers' third place winning chicken in the Public Safety division.

Murrayville Smokers' meat (from left to right) chicken, ribs and pork.

A vendor is open for business at the Hawgin' on Lanier event at Laurel Park in Gainesville on Saturday.

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