LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – The City of Lawton continued it’s Juneteenth celebrations on Saturday with a barbecue competition.
Just over a dozen pitmasters from around the nation gathered at Elmer Thomas Park to see who cooked the best ribs.
Event promoter Lonzo Gaines says that while the competition may be fierce, the goal is to bring the community together.
“What we’re trying to do is we’re promoting unity in the community.” Gaines said.
“We’re promoting Lawton-Fort Sill to all of the other communities in Oklahoma. The only thing we have got to do is believe in it. And as long as we continue to believe in it and help support it, and I need other community members and businessmen to come out and help support it; we can get this thing on the map like it’s never been before.”
Gaines and others at the event added that they hope the competition becomes a yearly Juneteenth tradition.
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