Gumbo season is here, and on Thursday, Nov. 12, a parking lot off Pecue Lane will be full of it, all for a good cause.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge is holding its annual Gumbo Cookoff at the Ferguson Home showroom, 6721 Pecue Lane. Instead of selling tickets, the HBA|GBR asks every guest to bring a food item or a cash donation for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Those donations arrive just as the food bank heads into its busiest season.

The schedule

7:30 a.m.: Cook teams can start arriving.

1 p.m.: Tasting and People's Choice voting open.

3 p.m.: Winners are announced.

There will also be music, games and some friendly competition. Guests can register through the HBA|GBR event page.

The judges

The Grand Prize, which comes with the HBA|GBR Gumbo Cookoff Paddle, will be decided by Chef John Folse, Chef Peter Sclafani and Eric Sibley.

Want to cook?

Teams sign up through the HBA|GBR. An outdoor spot under the cook tent is $260, and an indoor cooking spot is $360. When the event page was posted, there were 13 outdoor spots and two indoor spots. If your office, crew or family has a gumbo it likes to brag about, this is a good place to prove it.

Businesses can also sign on as bar, photo or DJ sponsors.

Parking

Don't park at Ferguson. Use the lot at Skate Galaxy next door and walk over.

Questions go to event contact Yvona Ward at [email protected] or 225-769-7696.

Bring a few cans for the food bank, grab a spoon and vote for your favorite pot.

Photo courtesy of the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge.