Keith Cantrell

Assistant General Director

The Grits Cookoff is now a decade old! The tenth annual Great Grits Cook-Off and Festival, which benefits the Prattville YMCA’s Coach a Child Scholarship Fund will be Saturday, October 21 from 9 am – 12 pm. The event includes a day of live music, bounce houses, arts and crafts vendors, the Nitty Gritty 5k Race, and a whole lot of grits.

During the Great Grits Cook-Off, businesses, churches, restaurants, and individuals will compete to create the best grits recipe. This cooking competition will be judged on taste, presentation, and originality, with prizes awarded in each category. In addition, a “People’s Choice Award” will be presented to the team that receives the most votes (dollar bills) by attendees.

The Great Grits Cook-Off and Festival is presented by Gipson’s Tires Pros. In business for over 30 years, this local tire and automotive repair shop with locations in Prattville, Millbrook, and Montgomery takes great pride in supporting the community from which it has gained a reputation for providing outstanding customer service.

The Prattville YMCA is a huge part of the Prattville community, and Gipson’s Tire Pros knows the value of giving back to the YMCA. “It’s important for us to give back to the communities that support us. We understand that our local youth are the future of our community, and we thoroughly enjoy supporting them. In addition, we enjoy unique, feel-good opportunities, and the Grits Cookoff is a fun way to do just that,” says Vickie Royal, Prattville resident and Gipson’s Tire Pros Regional Manager. What started off years ago as what some would call a “strange idea,” the cookoff and festival has become an expectation in the community. “I am always having people ask, “when is the grits cookoff?” says Keith Cantrell, Assistant General Director of the Prattville YMCA.

The cookoff & festival also includes the 8th Annual Nitty Gritty 5K. For the sixth consecutive year, the race will be sponsored by Promise Physical Therapy. The race will begin at 8:00 AM and features awards for all ages. The completion of the race will coincide with the opening of the Grits festival. All runners receive admission to the cookoff to enjoy all the grits they can eat.

The first Great Grits Cook-Off and Festival was held on September 21, 2013 and drew an enthusiastic crowd despite inclement weather that pushed the event indoors. With every passing year, rain or shine, the cookoff continues to grow.

“With all the rain we have had over the years, it is hard to believe so many people attend. When we look back to 2013, it is hard to believe how far we have come in such a short period of time. We believe this year’s crowd will be even bigger.”

All of the funds raised at the Great Grits Cook-Off and Festival will benefit the Coach a Child Scholarship Fund, which is a cornerstone of the YMCA in their commitment to never turn a child away due to their inability to pay. That commitment held true even in the toughest economic conditions of our country. In 2022, the Prattville YMCA gave close to $330,000 in scholarships to families and children benefiting over 3000 different individuals. The Coach a Child Scholarship Fund allows the YMCA to bless the lives of so many who could not otherwise afford the privilege of participating in Y programs.

For all information about participating, sponsoring or more, visit https://www.prattvilleymca.org/events/2023/10/21/special-events/great-grits-cookoff-5k/

Cook teams and vendors are currently being accepted. If you would like to participate in this great event, contact Keith Cantrell at 334-358-9622 or by email at kcantrell@prattvilleymca.org