By BRANDON WORF

bworf@dailynews.net

The Chestnut Street District is serving up some blues and barbecue again, but with a slightly different flavor this year.

Instead of simply selling barbecue food, the Downtown Hays Development Corp. and Chestnut Street District are hosting a barbecue contest.

"This is the fourth year for the Blues & BBQ event," said event coordinator Sabrina William. "It started with a downtown sidewalk sale, where we had some barbecue food items that people could buy, and there was a DJ. Obviously, it's grown a lot in the last three years."

This year's event has expanded to include sidewalk sales in the downtown area, The Mall and Centennial Mall.

"There will be free trolley rides to take people between the malls and downtown," William said.

Since the contest is in its first year, it won't be sanctioned, but the event still will follow the same rules set forth by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

"Since we're in the first year, we won't be sanctioned, but we'll still do it the same way they do," William said.

She said the contest will have two categories for teams to enter, just like the real thing.

"We'll have an open division, which will have the four categories of chicken, pork, brisket and ribs, and then we'll have the people's choice division, which will be just brisket," she said. "That division will basically have the brisket donated, and teams can bring their own spices or rubs and see if they can win the public."

The contest itself begins July 18 and continues through July 19, when a public taste testing featuring the brisket will happen.

"For $5, the public can purchase tickets at Union Pacific Park," William said. "The tickets give them the opportunity to sample all the different brisket choices in the people's choice division, and then vote for their favorite."

She said in addition to the brisket, there will be plenty more to keep people around.

"We have some businesses donating other side dishes on top of the food, and we just got approved for a cereal malt beverage license. So we'll have a small beer garden for those who'd like to have a beer with their barbecue," William said. "On top of that, we have artist Sean Cole playing at the Union Pacific Park on Friday night, so people can get a dose of everything."

The contest is limited to 20 teams, and the entry deadline is Monday. Entry forms can be picked up at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine, or online at www.chestnutstreetidstrict.com.