RATHDRUM - The first Taste of Rathdrum featuring food vendors, a barbecue contest, music and a beer garden will be held at Majestic Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Presented by Rathdrum's Parks and Recreation Department, the event will showcase the city's newest park, which includes a splash pad. There is no admission.

The Taste of Rathdrum will be similar to the Taste of Coeur d'Alene and Pig Out in the Park in Spokane.

"We realize it may take several years to get to that level, but we figured we'd start now," said Lance Bridges, Rathdrum's parks and recreation director. "We put on a lot of special events, but August has always been a dry month, so our staff decided to put this on for the community.

"This will be the first major event to be held at Majestic Park."

Food vendors will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vendors are being sought and the entry is $100.

The barbecue contest will feature rib and chicken divisions. The turn-in time for judging by Rathdrum's Parks and Recreation Commission will be at 4 p.m. The award ceremony is at 5 p.m. Barbecue pit masters are being sought and the entry is $10.

Joey T's will sponsor an adult hot-dog eating contest at 1 p.m. Entry is $10.

The deadline for all registrations is Thursday. Entries are available at the city's parks office on Main Street. Information: 687-2399, parksrec@rathdrum.org.

There will also be live music by Nu Jack City from 6-9 p.m. and a beer garden.

"Rathdrum is known for having a small-town atmosphere, and we'd like to extend that to the rest of Kootenai County," Bridges said.