'Cue and sides

The Great American Barbecue isn't your typical cook-then-eat BBQ festival. Take today's activities in the event's "Town Square Area": carnival, $5 Segway rides, tofu tasting, beer garden, Southern Living culinary demos and hot-air balloons. OK, one of those things is made up, but you get the idea. Sure, there are barbecue contests from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but there's also a main stage with bands playing from 12:15 to 11:15 p.m. It all continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Woodlands Racetrack ( 9700 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas). Get in for $10 for the day or $15 for the weekend; it's free for kids. Call 913-422-9599.
Fri., May 23; Sat., May 24; Sun., May 25, 2008