The Taylorville BBQ Blues & Cruise event was this weekend with events held in downtown Taylorville and the Christian county fairgrounds. Friday night the preparty drew BBQ enthusiasts and music lovers alike with samples of BBQ and great live music from “The Screaming Vatos” which features Taylorville musician Bill Cope in the horn section.  A full day of festivities on Saturday featured a state championship professional BBQ cook off and an amateur competition. Senator Sam McCann opened the event with the ceremonial eating of the first rib. Taylorville mayor Greg Brotherton told Regional Radio News this annual event is a major festival for the city bringing festival goers from all around the region who all spend money while they are here.  Gary Merker, executive director of Taylorville Main Street, said the event drew over 475 people to the event Friday night and expected several thousand on Saturday. The BBQ Blues and Cruise featured live blues music with Bumble Bee Bob Kamoake, The Jeremiah Johnson Band from St. Louis and World Class Noise from Chicago. This is the sixth year for the annual event.