If you consider yourself a barbecue connoisseur, you might want to head to the hills this weekend.
The town of Dillard, Ga., in the north Georgia mountains will be the site of the 14th annual Dillard Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival on Friday and Saturday.
You can sample all the barbecue your heart desires.
Music begins at 2 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.
Your taste buds aren’t limited to pulled pork. Competitors will submit their best grits, cabbage, chicken, pork, ribs, beef brisket and desserts for bragging rights and prizes.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony Saturday evening.
After you’ve had your fill, check out the local attractions.
Dillard is in the northeast corner of Georgia, near where the state borders North and South Carolina.
Black Rock Mountain State Park, the highest elevation in Georgia, is a little more than three miles from downtown Dillard.
It offers hiking trails, waterfalls and 80-mile scenic views. It also offers campsites and cabins, should you want to stay a little while.
Nearby Chatooga River offers whitewater rafting or a pretty spot for picnicking.
Go fishing at Andy’s Trout Farm, but be prepared to keep what you catch. Throwbacks are not allowed.
Or, take a guided trail ride at Dillard House stables and see the Appalachians from horseback.
While you’re at it, see how roughing it was really done at Foxfire Museum in nearby Mountain City. More than 20 historic log cabins, filled with artifacts and period reproductions, offer a glimpse into 19th-century mountain life.
You can also check out a wagon that was used to transport Cherokee Indians along the Trail of Tears.
Back in Dillard, pick up handmade jam, fudge or a carved walking stick at the Dillard General Store. It’s one of several places shoppers will enjoy buying souvenirs or items they can’t live without.
At the store, you can select from locally grown vegetables from Osage Farms, which might also make you feel better about eating all that barbecue.
– Lisa Kaylor, staff writer

What: Dillard Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival
When: Friday and Saturday
Cost: $10 for a one-day pass, $15 for a two-day pass
Getting there: Take Interstate 20 West to the Thomson exit. Turn right on U.S. 78, which becomes Georgia Highway 17. Follow Georgia 17 north to U.S. 23 North, which will take you into Dillard.