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Winchester and Clark County are invited to come chow down on some barbecue for a good cause this weekend.

The Clark County Winchester Heritage Commission’s 5th Annual Pig Pickin’ for the Past is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23.

The fundraiser will take place on the front lawn of Holly Rood, located at 28 Beckner Street, from 5-8 p.m.

Suzan and Van Ramey will provide the evening’s musical entertainment.

The barbecue will be provided by Pooh’s Que and the Clark County Constables Association.

The dinner funds the commission’s numerous commitments to local historic preservation.

In fact, it will honor individuals at the event who have gone above and beyond in the name of history.

“The two awards that will be given out will be for the Samuel Taylor Historical Home on Maple Street that was renovated and we are also giving an award to the office of the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce where they renovated it and preserved it,” said commission member Steve Justice.

The awards are decided on by commission members and select individuals asked for their assistance.

“We try to go and evaluate throughout the city and the county and look for homes or businesses that, within the last few years, have been preserved,” Justice said.

The dinner will also feature a silent auction.

“I know that Debbie Barnes has got a quilt that we will be auctioning off,” Justice said. “We just have a number of fantastic items that will be in it.”

Some of the items include a rooster statuary donated by Court Street Gifts, a gift basket from Bourbon Carriage Coffee, a gift certificate from The Allen Company, jewelry from The Corner Vintage Shop, an Ale-8 print donated by Holly VanMeter and children’s wildlife books donated by Pat Banks.

The commission is comprised of 12 commissioners with equal representation for both the city and county.

The commission was initially created to support Holly Rood in the 1970s.

Holly Rood, sometimes known as the Clark Mansion, was built between 1813 and 1814 as a home for Governor James Clark. It was almost torn down 50 years ago to build a bus garage but has since been saved and restored.

So, what is the commission up to these days?

“We meet on the third Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. We help to maintain Holly Rood, and Lower Howard’s Creek [Nature and Heritage Preserve] also falls under our umbrella,” Justice said.

The commission is also involved in several other historical philanthropies, such as sponsoring a scholarship to Bluegrass Community and Technical College and setting up a historical marker on North Main Street for Ale-8-One.

Tickets for the event are still on sale and are $15 for adults and $5  for children under the age of ten. Those interested in purchasing them can contact Justice at (859) 749-3174 or Paula Branham-Thomas at (859) 595-9848.

For more information about the fundraiser or the commission, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clarkcowhc.