KENNESAW - In one year, Mel Durden, Mike Perea and Rich Schwartz, all Acworth neighbors who make up the "3 Men & A Rub" barbecue competition team, went from backyard amateurs to professional cooks with a catering service.

On Saturday, they and more than 74 other teams competed for more than $14,000 in cash and prizes at the city of Kennesaw's annual Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival at Adams Park and the Ben Robertson Community Center in downtown Kennesaw.

The festival, which was conducted for the third straight year at the park, began on Friday and ended Saturday.

It was the second year 3 Men & A Rub competed at the festival, after not winning last year.

Durden, 49, Perea, 49, and Schwartz, 38, entered all four barbeque categories of chicken, pork ribs, butt and beef brisket, and were hoping to win the contest in order to qualify for an out-of-state professional barbeque competition in the fall.

The Pigs & Peaches Festival has grown to become one of north Georgia's premier barbecue events. It features a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned professional contest that is recognized as a Georgia State Championship barbeque cook-off.

There was also non-sanctioned "Backyard BBQ," "Anything Butt," and "Peach Dessert" contests. Contest participants came from Georgia and surrounding southeastern states.

"We make our own sauces, rubs, smokers - we make our own everything," Durden said . "We really haven't changed our method of cooking. We think we brought to the game something very solid and consistent."

Between 30,000 and 40,000 people were expected to attend the two-day festival, which featured live entertainment, a music contest for seniors, a kids play zone, vendors and food booths. Besides smoke-cooked barbecue, guests had menu options that included pizza, corndogs, homemade soda, ice cream and other tasty desserts.

Kimberly Flores of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, who served as event specialist, said many people attended the festival despite the formidable heat. The high temperature was 91 degrees on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

"Other than everybody trying to brave the heat, we're doing pretty good," Flores said.