On Saturday, the air in McLouth will be filled with the smell of smoked meats as the 18th annual McLouth BBQ Blowout comes to town.

The Northeast Kansas State BBQ Championship, which is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, will start Friday night for competitors and continue into Saturday.

Team registration information is available at the competition’s Web site, www.mclouthbbq.com

A petting zoo will be open to children from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The McLouth 4-H club will serve a country breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and “The Great Pie Bake Off” begins at 9 a.m.

An ABATE Motorcycle show will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The annual event is sponsored by the McLouth Recreation Commission.

The event is free and open to the public.