Next in a series: North Texas cities, towns, and neighborhoods celebrate fall with all the gusto of people who have suffered through a Texas summer, and we are here to let you know about the best area fall festivals, Oktoberfests, pumpkin patches, and Halloween fun over the next several weeks. Today, we’re headed to Lake Highlands for the White Rock Que, a huge annual BBQ competition that supports the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC). If you know of a great fall activity that needs to be showcased, let us know! Here’s the series so far.
Neighborhood/Area: Lake Highlands
Where: Oak Highlands Brewery, 10484 Brockwood Road, Dallas, TX 75238
What makes it special: A friendly neighborhood BBQ competition became a way to make an impact when the team behind White Rock Que were personally impacted by a series of sexual assaults in Lake Highlands in 2013. I spoke with two of the organizers, Lizzie Pierce and Brian Blakeman. “It started as a backyard barbeque with four families arguing over who made the best brisket, and if you’re going to make all that brisket, you have to invite some friends over to eat it all,” Pierce said. “Then in 2013, Lake Highlands was hit with a series of sexual assaults.” Pierce herself was a survivor of the attacks, and as the families and the community as a whole came together, she says they “saw first-hand the impact DARCC can make on survivors, families, and friends” They turned their neighborhood event into a fundraiser that will pass the $500,000 mark this year.
Blakeman was one of the original competing cooks, and has been integral to the growth of the event from day one. From the first year, when the group decided to open the event to the public and sell T-shirts to fundraise for DARCC, raising around $5,000, to today, when the event sees upward of 1700 attendees and is DARCC’s largest donor: “It’s been something really special to see it grow,” Blakeman said. The teams reach out to their networks, our sponsors reach our to their people. We’ve been able to create a lot of awareness of DARCC and what they do. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of DARCC until something happens, and of course helping survivors is crucial, but these dollars go a long way toward advocacy, prevention, and outreach programs as well.”
Pierce was quick to remind us that while the fundraiser is important, “We have a LOT of fun.”
What: The event has become something of the event to compete in for BBQ aficionados in the area, and it’s difficult to secure a spot in the competition. It costs $600 to enter, and each contestant receives the same meat with which to work their own magic. This year each team will prepare 8-10 turkey breast, 2 – pork butts, 25 – rack of ribs, 8-10 briskets (around 12lb each), and one “jackpot item” which is up to the team to decide. When I spoke to Blakeman, he was preparing to deliver more than 2,400 lbs of meat to the contestants.
Attendees who purchase tickets to the 10th annual White Rock Que get to sample each team and vote for the people’s choice award, while enjoying live music and beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks provided by Oak Highlands Brewery. If you are into craft beer, OHB has a great Oktoberfest, and their year round selections are top-notch. The Freaky Deaky Belgian Tripel style ale is a steller pairing with BBQ, IPA fans will love the Derelict, and you can’t go wrong with an Allgood Kolsch for an easy drinker.
As with any time Lake Highlands comes together, you can expect to see the real estate commmunity out in force. You will see several residential and commercial real estate groups sponsoring this event, as well as some familiar faces donning aprons, including: The Bar Group at Dave Perry Miller; White Rock Bluffs, a new home community by Robert Ellis Custom Homes; Hamilton Residential Group at Paragon Realtors; Eric Holmes at Compass Real Estate; Talley Riggins Construction Group; and HRHCIR Construction.
When: Saturday, October 14, 2023, 4 to 9 p.m.
See the website for a schedule of events.
Tickets: Tickets are $40. 100% of your ticket proceeds and donations will go to Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center. DARCC is an organization providing compassionate support to individuals impacted by sexual violence.
Read more here: Website | Facebook | Facebook Event
