Saturday sizzles with the day-long outdoor World Horseshoe Cook-off in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary NHPA World Horseshoe Tournament running through August 8. Here 1,500 horseshoe pitchers compete for $170,000 in prize money and the title of world champion. You can walk over to the convention center and watch the pitchers for free, but the cook-off is the place to be if you want all things food. Cheese, fries, meat and more will be combined in various ways to win in categories such as: classic, dessert, breakfast and crazy horse (anything goes). The festivities get tastier with live music and celebrity horseshoe pitching and more food. A bit of trivia for hungry minds — the ’shoe originated in Springfield by Leland Hotel chef Joe Schweska in 1928.
World Horseshoe Cook-Off
August 1
12-8pm
Lawn between Prairie Capital Convention Center
and President Abraham Lincoln Hotel
Adams Street
788-8800
Free
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2009.

