Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Barbecue tasters pigged out from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday to decide on their favorite.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Students from Ultimate Rhythm Dance Company performed under the fairgrounds picnic shelter Saturday afternoon.

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Photo courtesy of Billy Liner The finale of this year's festival featured a performance from Shot of Love. Pictured are band members Joe and Erin Bates, who are husband and wife.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The 2012 Miss Uniquely Union Pageant was a hit, with contestants from Union as well as surrounding areas.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Festivalgoers were also treated to a performance by the Sims Middle School Step Team on Saturday afternoon.

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Photo by Wm. Harold Senn Festival goers enjoyed browsing around a number of vendors at the festival.

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UNION — Those involved with this year’s Uniquely Union Festival said this year’s festival proved to be a huge success.

The Union County Fairgrounds bustled with festivities throughout Friday and Saturday as festivalgoers turned out in droves for a variety of competitions, performances, activities, vendors and of course, barbecue.

Competition barbecue cookers arrived on Friday to prepare their meat for judging on Saturday, cooking through the night and into the morning. Festivalgoers participated in the Taster’s Choice portion of the competition by purchasing wristbands, tasting barbecue from each of the cookers and voting for their favorite.

Numerous teams competed, and a team known as Killer B’s from Augusta, Ga., was named grand champion.

The festival also featured performances by a variety of performers including The Shades, Shot of Love, Motown Bobby, FallowField and many more.

The Miss Uniquely Union natural beauty pageant was held Saturday afternoon and included contestants in various age groups. The winner and 2012 Miss Uniquely Union was Kylie Gregory, 12, of Union.

Festival committee member Jami Trammell said the feedback from everyone — including cookers, pageant organizers and contestants, performers and attendees — was positive. She also said a survey was conducted during the festival, and many were asked, “What’s unique about Union?”

“The majority said, ‘the people,’” Trammell said. “That was the number one thing. That lets me know we need to emphasize Union as ‘the city of hospitality.’”

As of Monday afternoon, official scores and results from the barbecue competition and the pageant were still being tabulated. Look for an in-depth breakdown of results in the Wednesday edition of The Union Daily Times or at www.uniondailytimes.com.