Pandemic cancels annual Mallard Creek BBQ for second straight year

CHARLOTTE — For the second straight year, organizers have had to cancel the Mallard Creek BBQ because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In a Monday morning announcement, officials said the Session of Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church unanimously voted to support the BBQ Committee’s recommendation to cancel the 91st annual barbecue, traditionally held the fourth Thursday in October.

“This difficult decision was reached after much prayer and deliberation by the Session’s Elders and the BBQ Committee,” the organizers said in a release. “While we realize that the ‘Grand Daddy of North Carolina BBQs’ is a timeless tradition greatly anticipated by our Church Membership, our community, the media, and politicians -- but first and foremost, the health and safety of our hundreds of Church volunteers and the thousands of valuable customers we serve each year is of the utmost importance.”

Organizers said church leadership explored many options, such as drive-thru-only service, spaced-out seating, postponement, and even a scaled down event but said that the time-honored tradition of slow-roasted pork over hickory wood and making Brunswick stew and coleslaw from scratch requires close contact between the church volunteers for a week.

“We saw no way to accomplish this, and have our folks remain safe,” church leaders said in a statement. “Finally, we would never want to endanger our customers on BBQ Day. We pray for quick healing of our community and trust that we will be able to see all our supporting friends again, on October 27, 2022.”

For the past 90 years, people have converged in north Charlotte for the popular event that combines pork and politics. The barbecue also serves as a fundraiser for the church.

(RAW VIDEO: Volunteers Prepare For Annual Mallard Creek Barbecue)

RAW VIDEO: Volunteers Prepare For Annual Mallard Creek Barbecue RAW VIDEO: Volunteers Prepare For Annual Mallard Creek Barbecue

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