Politics with a side of BBQ! Join gubernatorial candidates in COS this weekend

Make politics fun again?

Our news partners at The Gazette, teaming up with Colorado Politics and El Pomar's Forum for Civic Advancement, want to try!

Drawing inspiration from a centuries-old Swiss tradition, The Gazette, Colorado Politics and El Pomar are launching their first annual Colorado Civic Barbecue Saturday.

The idea is to give political opponents and the citizens they hope to govern a chance to break bread together in between debates.

Essentially the Swiss have turned election day into a party, with sausages, pastries, yodeling and an oompah band. Everyone who shows up gets a say on whatever issues the town faces. All you have to do in some cantons to demonstrate your eligibility to vote is to bring your sword, bayonet or sidearm. After a period of spirited face-to-face, open-air debate, major town decisions are made by a show of hands.

-Excerpt from Gazette article

Leave the swords at home, but otherwise those behind the barbecue hope to match our high-altitude cousins in merriment! The barbecue will boast bluegrass music, delicious food, and a chance to rub elbows with gubernatorial candidates. The barbecue will be sandwiched in between a Republican primary debate in the morning and a Democratic primary debate in the afternoon.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Garden Pavilion at Penrose House on 1661 Mesa Ave. For all the details,

visit The Gazette's website

The Republican debate starts at 11 a.m. and the Democratic debate at 1:45 p.m.

WATCH as Republican candidates square off in the first of two gubernatorial debates right here in Colorado Springs as Penrose House. Dems will face off at 1:45 p.m. following a BBQ. The event is free and open to the public. El Pomar Foundation
Posted by KKTV 11 News on Saturday, May 19, 2018

WATCH: Now it's the Dems' turn to face off in today's gubernatorial primary debate held right here in Colorado Springs at Penrose House. http://www.kktv.com/content/news/Politics-with-a-side-of-BBQ--Join-gubernatorial-candidates-in-COS-this-weekend-482577021.html
Posted by KKTV 11 News on Saturday, May 19, 2018