The Crestwood Board of Aldermen will be hosting the second annual Crestwood Aldermen BBQ Competition July 14 in Whitecliff Park.

This community-wide backyard barbecue competition is a great way for residents to interact with their aldermen, neighbors and friends, all while enjoying delicious barbecue, the city said in information posted to its website.

Last year the competition was open only to aldermen, but this year the aldermen are opening their teams up to residents from each ward to compete alongside them for the coveted first-place prize.

The competition will consist of four eight-person teams, one from each ward, with two aldermen and six residents.

Teams will fill up on a first-come first-serve basis. If you’re not a cook, you can sign up to be a judge. Those spots are limited to the first nine applicants.

Acting Mayor Tony Kennedy is the defending champion with a victory in the first competition last year as a Ward 4 alderman.

But while then-Mayor Gregg Roby competed last year, this year the rules were changed so that the mayor is a judge rather than a participant. So Kennedy will not be able to defend his title, which he credits to his wife, Angie.

“As the distinguished ward champion of the last barbecue, (former) Alderman (Tim) Anderson and I, we won handily,” Kennedy said. “I’ll be very objective. I’ll try not to vote for Ward 4 unless they’re really good.”