Plan for Weather

I've been looking for competitions in Southestern Minnesota that I might like to participate in. There are a few advertised and I'm sure there are a few others that I'll find along the way.

I was really lucky last year for the Festival in the Park Cook-Off in that it didn't rain. Knowing I wanted my Boston Butt to cook >12 hours, I started around midnight for a 2pm turn-in. But that is a topic for another story.

My point to make here is I came pretty prepared for anything to my first competition; bringing a popup cover (like an E-Z UP) and a tent. If it rains, my smoker doesn't do well with water running down the lid and down the inside of my smoker cooling the metal and internal temperatures. So in the event of rain, I planned to move the smoker under my popup.

Looking to up-my-game this year, I've been thinking about adding some other competitions to my curriculum vitae. So I started looking at alternative shelter with a VENT in the top.

...which led me to this:

Z-Shade Instant Gazebo - 13' x 13' $130

Available from SamsClub, it looks like a pretty nice product. A respectable size of 13x13' and most importantly, that necessary 'chimney' in the center of the gazebo. At first I thought the sides could close, but I see those are decorative pieces to hide the metal leg supports.