Karaoke party to kick off Hereford Cookoff

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Home of the Hereford Cookoff and Cornhole Tournament will get underway Friday, Oct. 1 with a Karaoke Night at Webb Park following Albany High School’s homecoming football game.

“This will give the exes somewhere to go and sit and visit after the football game,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “It will serve as our kickoff to the next day because people cooking will be able to come in and set up Friday afternoon.”

Check-in for the cookoff will be 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday.

“We’ve had a great response from our sponsors,” Jones said. “We’re hoping people will sign up this next week and that we will have a good turnout.”

Judging for the cookoff will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Competition will be offered in eight categories. Entry fee is $20 per category.

There will also be two youth categories in the 5-9 and 10-14 age groups. Youth entry fees are $10 per category.

Registration for the cornhole tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Competition will be held in singles and team divisions. Entry fee is $25 per person.

Jones said participants can enter the cookoff, the cornhole tournament, or both.

“They don’t have to cook,” she said. “They can just come and play cornhole.”

Jones said the Albany Masonic Lodge and Albany Lions Club will serve hamburger meals, while several other activities will be available.

“The fire department is going to have their bounce house there where kids can buy bracelets and jump all day,” she said. “Let’s have a good time.”

Jones said the weekend will support several causes.

“There’s going to be a lot of people who are going to benefit from this event,” she said. “It will be a good opportunity for the people who come in for homecoming to have a place to hang out and visit.”