“Where BBQ meets Charity in the Panhandle”

February 8, 2025

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Gulf Coast Cornhole Series Tournament

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St Sylvester Parish Center

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February 8, 2025 〰️ Gulf Coast Cornhole Series Tournament 〰️ St Sylvester Parish Center 〰️

BBQ Charity event is scheduled for

October 4, 2025!

St. Sylvester Catholic Church

6464 Gulf Breeze Pkwy

Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563

2024 Event Presented by:

knights of columbus

mario “chick” alberghini council 13277

Smokin’ in the Square is a BBQ competition dedicated to raising money for our annually selected charities. This is a family friendly event so come on out and have some fun!!

100% of this year’s proceeds go to two great charities: the Catholic Charities of NW Florida and

the Little Sisters of the Poor.

2023-2024 Check Presentations

WOW WOW WOW!!! Thank you so much for everyone’s support of this year’s Smokin’ in the Square fundraising events!! This year has surpassed all of our expectations because of the generous continued support of our wonderful sponsors AND also because of all of you!!! Because of your incredible support, this year we are able to donate $18,000 to our two charities!! $9,000 each to Catholic Charities of NW Florida Food Bank and the Little Sisters of the Poor! Congratulations to all!

Judges Tent — **Where it Began…**

The idea of a competitive BBQ competition was started in 2008 with a Backyard competition held on the festival grounds of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. It was a one day event and attracted 13 competitors. It was a new experience as a fund raiser but proceeds were small. In 2010, Smokin’ in the Square was born. Smokin’ in the Square spent many year’s at Seville Square and Maritime Park as a professional and semi-pro BBQ competition. COVID-19 caused us to cancel our annual event in 2020 and 2021 and gave us time to rethink our event. For the 2022 event we decided to ‘come back home’ and recreate that home-style, country feel of a truly ‘back yard’ competition.
Smokin’ in the Square is now a ‘Year Round’ event. The BBQ competition kicks off our fraternal year in September. That competition is followed with the Charity Poker Run in October. October also kicks off our Grills, Guns & Grub Raffle ticket sales. That raffle happens in December. Then in January/February we host a Gulf Coast Cornhole Series Tournament. The net proceeds from these four (4) events will be combined and distributed to our charities each June.
We have received wonderful comments about this year’s events and are very happy with our decision to scale it back and make it more of a community event that raises money for charity. Without the support of our members, our local sponsors and people like you this would not be such a success.

2022 Charities:

catholic charities of northwest florida

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida serves, empowers, and advocates for impoverished and vulnerable families and individuals of any race, religion or national origin across the Florida Panhandle.

They are a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization that helps to rebuild lives, each and every day.

They proudly carry out the social mission of the Catholic Church throughout 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle.

Their programs focus on empowerment and seek to enact long-term, positive change in the lives of those they serve. Their services are tailored for the unique circumstances of each person and their impact is significant and measurable. They serve our neighbors professionally, compassionately, in multiple languages, with great importance placed on building-up their personal dignity and encourage them to create a better life for themselves & their families.

little sisters of the poor

The Little Sisters of the Poor are an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan. Together with a diverse network of collaborators, they serve the elderly poor in over 30 countries around the world.

Continuing the work of Saint Jeanne Jugan, their MISSION is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself.