Mission Arts & Eats Festival kicks off Friday

The Mission Arts & Eats Festival kicks off tonight in the area around the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center near Martway and Beverly.

The festival includes Mission’s state championship BBQ Contest, Battle of the Brisket 2012, as well as food vendors, arts and crafts vendors and children’s art activities. The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

There will be live music both nights and Saturday morning the festival opens with a Rotary pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.