The Rock ‘n Ribs Benefit this Saturday is set to give residents a full day of entertainment, food and an opportunity to give funds for more than one local charity.

The rib cook-off, scheduled for Saturday, May 11, will not only give to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, but also to SABRA Sanctuary. In addition, organizers are trying to raise money by selling t-shirts for two local cancer patients Cathy Smith and Steve Mott.

Clay Carmichael, organizer for this year’s event, said his goal is to raise more money than the $4,000 raised last year for Habitat for Humanity, as the event is moving downtown on Water Avenue where the street will be blocked off for the day. The event will begin with teams setting up and firing up their grills at 8 a.m. and general admission will begin at 1 p.m. where mingling and tasting will continue until 9:30 p.m.

“We want everything, all of the money raised to go towards local charities and local people,” Carmichael said, who started his own non-profit organization Blackbelt Benefit Group along with Chad Woodruff, Jeff Mott and Paul and Josh Wilkerson this year after creating the rib-off charity event.

Admission is $30 per person, but Carmichael said he thinks that price is well worth it for what those in attendance will get. More than ribs, participants will get barbecue plates and sample “redneck hors d’oeuvres” throughout the evening that each team creatively cooks in hopes they will win the people’s choice award. Tip jars are set up for each of the 12 teams and participants drop tips for their favorite samplings. The team with the most money will win people’s choice. Judges will weigh in on the ribs, selecting their favorite with the criteria of the best presentation, creativity, flavor and texture.

Performers for the event will include Destiny Brown, Sam Marsal, Cliff May and Friends, Rollin’ in the Hay and Love Handles. These bands will entertain throughout the day beginning at 3 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

“We have twice as many teams as we did last year and we hope that will help us reach our goal of raising more than $4,000 for the local charities,” Carmichael said. “We hope people will come out because the whole thing is going to local stuff and we are going to continue to do this for a long time. The more support we get, the longer we will be able to do it.”

To view a full schedule of the events on Saturday, May 11, visit the event website, www.rocknribsbenefit-com.webs.com