BARBECUE SERVES UP HISTORY: COTATI COOKOUT FEATURES CHICKEN, MUSIC, AUCTION -- AND CONTINUES A CENTURY OF TRADITION

The Cotati Historical Society will continue the town's proud tradition of barbecue when it holds its third annual Old Fashioned Chicken Barbecue on April 17 at the Ray Miller Community Center behind City Hall.

The first Cotati picnickers assembled in the early 1900s in a once-upon-a-time oak grove at the corner of School Street and El Rancho. Held just below "Cotati Heights," the site of Cotati's founding family's ranch house, those events were usually associated with Independence Day speechifying and traditional games.

In 1940, St. Joseph's Catholic Church revived the picnics as a small parish event. During the post-war years and into the 1950s, though, it grew into a massive beef and chicken barbecue called "Food, Fun and Frolic for 5,000."

It took nearly the whole town to pull off, preparing food for weeks ahead, planning nearly all year-round. It was said to be the largest such event in Northern California.

Money raised in those days allowed St. Joseph's to build its modern church facility on the former site of the Page family home. The church's unusual spire still rises above Highway 101. Since the parish completed its building mission in the 1960s, that barbecue has been held intermittently, recently in honor of the church community's 100th anniversary.

In the same spirit of small-town socializing and fundraising, the Cotati Historical Society launched its version of the town barbecue in 2009 to help raise funds for a museum. That goal was completed and dedicated the following year inside Cotati City Hall.

Each spring, the Historical Society learns a little more about how to run the event. The first year was so successful that they ran out of chicken, but not beans. They had even more food and attendees for the second year, when they adapted the old barbecue name of Food, Fun and Frolic.

"This year, however, we're buying the chickens already cut," says society President Prue Draper. "We bought whole chickens last year to save money and everyone got carpal tunnel from cutting them up."

Homemade values will continue this year in the form of a bake sale, with desserts made by society members and friends. Acoustic and electric music by local artists, raffle prizes determined by the Antique Wheel of Fortune, a silent auction and an opportunity to visit the Cotati Historical Museum will again enliven the festivities. Meals (served from noon to 3 p.m.) will include barbecued chicken, beans, coleslaw, a roll and beverage for $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

All proceeds benefit the Cotati Historical Society and Museum. Volunteers are needed and can email chsinfo@sonic.net for more information.

It takes place at Ray Miller Community Center, 216 E. School St., Cotati. Tickets are available at the Cotati Chamber office next to City Hall, at the Cotati branch of Exchange Bank, 8220 Old Redwood Highway, or by calling 795-5508 or 795-3977.