CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands will gather in north Charlotte Thursday for the Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church's annual BBQ fundraiser.
The Mallard Creek Barbecue is a nearly 90-year tradition, featuring thousands of pounds of pork, coleslaw, and brunswikck stew.
[ [Organizers plan to cook more than 14,000 pounds of pork for annual Mallard Creek BBQ] ]
Organizers said they are expected to prepare 14,600 pounds of BBQ in anticipation of up to 20,000 people.
The BBQ is hosted at the Mallard Creek Presbyterian and is a big fundraiser for the church.
The annual event began its decades long tradition in 1929, after the United States fell into the Great Depression.
Organizers reported the church was under construction at the time. Once the Great Depression started, the church could no longer afford the contractor and hosted a BBQ to raise the money.
Today, the money raised at the BBQ goes toward local and world missions as well as to supplement the church's building fund.
[POLITICS & PORK: 20,000 expected at 88th Mallard Creek Church BBQ]
The event has been around for decades. The Mallard Creek BBQ is a huge fundraiser, but it is also an opportunity.
Organizers told Channel 9 politicians learned back in the 1950s, the BBQ is a great place to get their message out to voters.
The event started at 10 a.m. and will run until organizers run out of food.
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