Grill Adventures is dedicated to the promotion of BBQ Festivals all over the world. If you would like us to promote your festival here, it is absolutely FREE! Contact us at: Colin@grilladventures.com If you don't see your favorite barbecue festival listed below, then send us a link and we will add it. Our goal is to keep you up to date with the latest info on BBQ Festivals and competitions. |
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| Will keep you Updated on Festivals and BBQ Cook-Offs |
| BBQ Abundance : Barbecue Aspect of Rally continues to Grow. By Vernon Tarver Posted on September 26, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. FAYETTEVILLE Arkansas — What’s your pleasure? Tender ribs falling off the bone? Pulled pork piled high on the bun? Stacked beef brisket with a side of slaw? Or perhaps some smoked chicken with all the fixin’s? Whichever it might be, you will usually have no trouble finding any or all of these just driving around town, looking for the next restaurant including the name “Pig,” “Hog” or perhaps even “Penguin.” But this weekend, if you want the best ribs, the finest pork and brisket and the most mouth-watering chicken, the place to be is clearly Bikes, Blues & BBQ. “Barbecue is in our festival’s name, so it better be pretty important,” Ron Autry said. “And it is.” In previous years, the “BBQ” of Bikes, Blues and BBQ might have been the most often overlooked of the three B’s.While the bikes grabbed the most attention and the blues music helped draw in the crowds, the barbecue at times didn’t keep up with the others. But as Autry points out, that is certainly not the case now. As coordinator of the annual barbecue contest for Bikes, Blues & BBQ, Autry has turned the festival into a food competition king. Not that it was always like that in the beginning, though. “This will be our fifth year of doing [a contest],” Autry said. “Well, they had a contest before that but I use that term loosely because it was just a small event they held on the street.” Since Autry got involved, more emphasis has been put on the “BBQ” of Bikes, Blues & BBQ. Five years ago - in their first official contest year - 31 contestants entered. Five years later, that number is well more than 50. “The first year we were out at the [Northwest Arkansas] Mall, and we had 31 teams. The next year we had 41 teams. This year we have 51 preregistered teams, and we’ve got more still signing up,” Autry said. “They come from all the surrounding states, and some come from as far away as New York or farther.” Making the barbecue contest a bigger part of the bike rally has obviously paid off, too. This year, the Kansas CityBBQ Society - considered one of the top barbecue contest-judging organizations in the country - has gotten involved. And thanks to their involvement, the Kansas City BBQ Society has recognized Bikes, Blues & BBQ as the official championship contest for barbecue cooking in the state of Arkansas. Not bad for an event not even a full decade old. Autry said most of the 50-plus contestants in the barbecue contest hail from out of state. In fact, last year’s overall champion was Rob Gray, from Leewood, Kan. “For whatever reason a lot of the local restaurants will shy away,” Autry said. “We have the Rib Crib from Tulsa [Okla.], and Sassy’s, the new restaurant in Fayetteville has an entry.But other than that, most of them are from out of the area.” The same goes not just for the contest portion the rally, but for the vendors as well. Brian Smith is owner of Lucky Luke’s BBQ in Fayetteville. For seven years now, Smith has been a regular down near Dickson Street setting up shop in the Walton Arts Center parking lot the week of the rally. But while Smith loves the festival, the same can’t be said for other local restaurants that choose not to participate. “We have a great time down there,” Smith said. “A lot of our former employees and a lot of our friends help out, and we come together and have a lot of fun. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun.” Smith is not sure why other local barbecue restaurants don’t take advantage of what would appear to be a golden opportunity to make some quick money on the streets. But he has a guess. “We’re one of the onlylocal places that chooses to set up down there, and it’s surprising how many don’t,” Smith said. “I don’t know why more of them don’t take part. But it is a lot of work, and it’s a lot of concessions. And you just never know what you’re going to sell before you get there. “Every year could be different, and you just never know. So I guess a lot of restaurants don’t want to deal with the trouble. But for us it’s definitely worth it.” Whether it’s the contest or just getting the good stuff from a vendor, the barbecue has stepped up a notch at Bikes, Blues & BBQ. “It’s a fun and crazy time out here,” Autry said. “But it’s a very loving group, a very laid back group, and the smells will knock you off your feet.” |
Kansas City BBQ contest is
world's largest
By SARA SHEPHERD
Kansas City Star
world's largest
By SARA SHEPHERD
Kansas City Star
That's what Carolyn Wells, Kansas City Barbeque Society executive director,
calls it.
"It was meant to be," she said. "This is just where it all comes together."
Wells and others say Kansas City's regional blessings, barbecue heritage and
late-season timing all fell into place since the first barbecue in 1980. "It was the
beginning of the evolution — and the evolution has kind of been on steroids,"
Wells said. "I mean, we never dreamed."
This weekend teams from as far as Germany, Australia and Jamaica are
competing to win top-of-the-line smokers and cash prizes up to $12,500. The
country's next-biggest competitions, including the Memphis in May International
Festival, attract fewer than 400 teams.
"The American Royal is certainly considered to be one of the best of the best,"
said Diane Hampton of Memphis in May. Mark Sanders of Kansas City, Kan.,
won the amateur division of the first American Royal Barbecue for his sausage.
Sanders, now 85, heard about the contest on TV. He'd never been in a
barbecue competition before, but he knew his homemade sausage was good.
So he borrowed a smoker and joined about a dozen other cooks in a parking lot
by the Governor's Exposition Building. According to an article in the Kansas City
Star, the judges were local media personalities, and one of the now-defunct
meat categories was lamb.
In early years — until the Royal moved the barbecue from early November to the
first weekend of October — it wasn't unheard of for contestants to cook in the
snow, he said. Contestants still bring family, drink beer and make the event an
"extravaganza" with barbecue at the forefront, he said.
But there weren't the mobile homes and super-size cookers that you see now,
he said. Kirk started cooking on backyard-size grills. Some others used
homemade cookers fashioned from things such as old water barrels.
"It was new for everybody," he said. "Nobody could say they'd been doing it for
20 years back in 1984."
calls it.
"It was meant to be," she said. "This is just where it all comes together."
Wells and others say Kansas City's regional blessings, barbecue heritage and
late-season timing all fell into place since the first barbecue in 1980. "It was the
beginning of the evolution — and the evolution has kind of been on steroids,"
Wells said. "I mean, we never dreamed."
This weekend teams from as far as Germany, Australia and Jamaica are
competing to win top-of-the-line smokers and cash prizes up to $12,500. The
country's next-biggest competitions, including the Memphis in May International
Festival, attract fewer than 400 teams.
"The American Royal is certainly considered to be one of the best of the best,"
said Diane Hampton of Memphis in May. Mark Sanders of Kansas City, Kan.,
won the amateur division of the first American Royal Barbecue for his sausage.
Sanders, now 85, heard about the contest on TV. He'd never been in a
barbecue competition before, but he knew his homemade sausage was good.
So he borrowed a smoker and joined about a dozen other cooks in a parking lot
by the Governor's Exposition Building. According to an article in the Kansas City
Star, the judges were local media personalities, and one of the now-defunct
meat categories was lamb.
In early years — until the Royal moved the barbecue from early November to the
first weekend of October — it wasn't unheard of for contestants to cook in the
snow, he said. Contestants still bring family, drink beer and make the event an
"extravaganza" with barbecue at the forefront, he said.
But there weren't the mobile homes and super-size cookers that you see now,
he said. Kirk started cooking on backyard-size grills. Some others used
homemade cookers fashioned from things such as old water barrels.
"It was new for everybody," he said. "Nobody could say they'd been doing it for
20 years back in 1984."
| For More Information Click on Banners |
| "Make your plans now" |
April 2-3, 2010 3rd Annual Smoke
on the Water BBQ and Bluegrass
Festival - Thomaston, GA
Bobby Bickley - P.O. Box 330 - Thomaston,
GA 30286
(706)-975-0038 or e-mail: for information
Click here to see if you are registered for
the Judge's Seminar.
on the Water BBQ and Bluegrass
Festival - Thomaston, GA
Bobby Bickley - P.O. Box 330 - Thomaston,
GA 30286
(706)-975-0038 or e-mail: for information
Click here to see if you are registered for
the Judge's Seminar.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —In 1980, the first American Royal Barbecue drew a dozen
cookers to a West Bottoms parking lot, most with modest smokers. Now the event,
which kicked off October 2, has become the hands-down biggest barbecue
competition on the planet with more than 500 teams.
cookers to a West Bottoms parking lot, most with modest smokers. Now the event,
which kicked off October 2, has become the hands-down biggest barbecue
competition on the planet with more than 500 teams.
| Save up to 30% on Outdoor BBQ Grills Our prices will not be beat! We will match any authorized dealer's published price. Browse through our huge selection of outdoor gas grills, portable charcoal grills or patio electric bbq grills. Find the perfect outdoor bbq grill for you. |
Come visit ShoppersChoice.com!
Welcome to our team! We will be excited for you to visit us online and that you are
interested in who we are, where we came from, and what we do.
We originally opened in 1998 as The Grill Store & More, an actual brick and mortar
store, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Owners Michael and Ladina Hackley started the
business from scratch and worked it for the first year by themselves 7 days a week.
By 2000, the business had expanded to two stores in Baton Rouge, and a franchise
location in New Orleans. We were still looking to expand, but seemed to have tapped
the Louisiana market, and so looked to the internet for added revenues. We
launched our first website, www.thegrillstoreandmore.com, in 2001 with 7000
products. This was followed shortly thereafter with www.bbqguys.com with a full color
catalog that corresponded to the site.
With our commitment to customer service and product knowledge we quickly became
one of the leading websites of outdoor cooking products. As we added more
websites catering to niche markets such as www.electricgrilldepot.com and
www.outdoorkitchensdepot.com, we decided to reduce our store locations so that we
could focus more on our online presence. In 2003 we acquired 16,000 square feet
of warehouse space to stock better quantities of current products as well as to
expand our product offering to over 15,000 items. As a result of these changes our
revenues increased by 400%.
Welcome to our team! We will be excited for you to visit us online and that you are
interested in who we are, where we came from, and what we do.
We originally opened in 1998 as The Grill Store & More, an actual brick and mortar
store, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Owners Michael and Ladina Hackley started the
business from scratch and worked it for the first year by themselves 7 days a week.
By 2000, the business had expanded to two stores in Baton Rouge, and a franchise
location in New Orleans. We were still looking to expand, but seemed to have tapped
the Louisiana market, and so looked to the internet for added revenues. We
launched our first website, www.thegrillstoreandmore.com, in 2001 with 7000
products. This was followed shortly thereafter with www.bbqguys.com with a full color
catalog that corresponded to the site.
With our commitment to customer service and product knowledge we quickly became
one of the leading websites of outdoor cooking products. As we added more
websites catering to niche markets such as www.electricgrilldepot.com and
www.outdoorkitchensdepot.com, we decided to reduce our store locations so that we
could focus more on our online presence. In 2003 we acquired 16,000 square feet
of warehouse space to stock better quantities of current products as well as to
expand our product offering to over 15,000 items. As a result of these changes our
revenues increased by 400%.
"We strive to provide fast shipping and an easy
ordering process. The customer deserves the
support we give them."
Click Here >.
ordering process. The customer deserves the
support we give them."
Click Here >.
| Mike Hackley, ShoppersChoice.com , CEO |
April 23-24 in 2010, downtown
Barnesville, Ga. is host to the
annual BBQ & Blues Festival. The
event is sanctioned by the Florida BBQ
Association, and was declared a State
Championship Cook off by Governor Sonny
Perdue in 2009. 45 teams compete each year
in the Triple Crown Series and the coveted
Jack Daniels National Qualifier Competition.
Barnesville, Ga. is host to the
annual BBQ & Blues Festival. The
event is sanctioned by the Florida BBQ
Association, and was declared a State
Championship Cook off by Governor Sonny
Perdue in 2009. 45 teams compete each year
in the Triple Crown Series and the coveted
Jack Daniels National Qualifier Competition.
| Douglas, GA "Always Fall Time Change Weekend" October 30-31, 2009 |
| Grill Adventures is dedicated to the promotion of BBQ Festivals all over the world. If you would like us to promote your festival here, it is absolutely FREE! Contact us at: Colin@grilladventures.com If you don't see your favorite barbecue festival listed below, then send us a link and we will add it. Our goal is to keep you up to date with the latest info on BBQ Festivals and competitions. |
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| Coming in September |
colin@grilladventures.com
| The CTBA promotes barbeque by assisting civic and charitable organizations in conducting barbeque contests. For the contestants, the CTBA offers standardized rules and regulations, and the knowledge that the contest will be fairly judged. For the contest organizers, the CTBA offers free promotional listings in the CTBA newsletter, mailing lists, contest forms, checklists, a fair and equal judging system and an actual living, breathing head judge to help on the day of the event. This is the current contest event schedule for the Central Texas Barbecue Association in 2010. |
February
5-Feb Humble Rodeo C/O Humble Civic Center
12-Feb Chilly Chili Austin FVW 8787
12-Feb Wild Hog C/O George West
12-Feb Tri-Club Livestock Show & Fair C/O Spring
19-Feb Stony Point FFA Round Rock
19-Feb Victoria Livestock Show BBQ Victoria
19-Feb Smoke Eaters Alice
26-Feb Smokin on the Rio Mercedes
26-Feb Elks Lodge Irving Lodge 2334 (183)
26-Feb Lion' Club Italy
March
5-Mar St. Jude's Bayou BBQ St.Champ Gonzales
5-Mar Relay for Life Corsicana
12-Mar ~~~Best Little Cook Off~~~ La Grange
12-Mar Jaycees Rattlesnake Round Up Sweetwater
12-Mar Dead Cow Cookin BBQ Wichita Falls
12-Mar Walnut Springs Lions Club C/O Walnut Springs
19-Mar ~~~Wild Hog Explosion~~~ Bandera
19-Mar ~~~Hill Country C/O~~~ Marble Falls
26-Mar Funfest & C/O~Quad Cities#1 Troy
26-Mar Mens Champ.BBQ&Chili C/O Johnson City
26-Mar Am. Legion Biker's C/O Waco
April
2-Apr Easter Fest Keerville
9-Apr ~~~Oenaville BBQ C/O~~~ Oenaville
9-Apr Melody Oaks Ranch Priddy
9-Apr APR Law Enforcement BBQ Amarillo
9-Apr Bluebonnet Fest Ennis
16-Apr Am Legion District Family BBQ C/O Pasadena
16-Apr International Goat Spectacular Bandera
16-Apr Horned Toad BBQ Quanah Cooper Breaks St.Prk.
23-Apr ~~~Youth Livestock Assn~~~ Liberty Hill
23-Apr ~~~Dewberry Festival~~~ Cameron
23-Apr Boomtown BBQ Blowout Burkburnett
23-Apr Mills Co. Goat c/o Goldwaite city park
23-Apr Rooster Motorcycle Rally Sweetwater
23-Apr White Dove of Hope Hempstead
23-Apr Derrick Days Corsicana
23-Apr Tx Paralyzed Vets State Championship
30-Apr ~~~Chappel Hill C/O~~~ Chappel Hill
30-Apr ~~~FFA Alumni Assoc~~~ Robinson
30-Apr Western Fest. & Expo Waco
30-Apr Annual SPCA BBQ C/O Quinlan
May
7-May BrucevilleEddy Mayfest~QC2 Eddy
7-May Howdy Roo Marble Falls
7-May Esteline
7-May May Days Festival Mineola
14-May C/O For The Cure Carrollton
5-Feb Humble Rodeo C/O Humble Civic Center
12-Feb Chilly Chili Austin FVW 8787
12-Feb Wild Hog C/O George West
12-Feb Tri-Club Livestock Show & Fair C/O Spring
19-Feb Stony Point FFA Round Rock
19-Feb Victoria Livestock Show BBQ Victoria
19-Feb Smoke Eaters Alice
26-Feb Smokin on the Rio Mercedes
26-Feb Elks Lodge Irving Lodge 2334 (183)
26-Feb Lion' Club Italy
March
5-Mar St. Jude's Bayou BBQ St.Champ Gonzales
5-Mar Relay for Life Corsicana
12-Mar ~~~Best Little Cook Off~~~ La Grange
12-Mar Jaycees Rattlesnake Round Up Sweetwater
12-Mar Dead Cow Cookin BBQ Wichita Falls
12-Mar Walnut Springs Lions Club C/O Walnut Springs
19-Mar ~~~Wild Hog Explosion~~~ Bandera
19-Mar ~~~Hill Country C/O~~~ Marble Falls
26-Mar Funfest & C/O~Quad Cities#1 Troy
26-Mar Mens Champ.BBQ&Chili C/O Johnson City
26-Mar Am. Legion Biker's C/O Waco
April
2-Apr Easter Fest Keerville
9-Apr ~~~Oenaville BBQ C/O~~~ Oenaville
9-Apr Melody Oaks Ranch Priddy
9-Apr APR Law Enforcement BBQ Amarillo
9-Apr Bluebonnet Fest Ennis
16-Apr Am Legion District Family BBQ C/O Pasadena
16-Apr International Goat Spectacular Bandera
16-Apr Horned Toad BBQ Quanah Cooper Breaks St.Prk.
23-Apr ~~~Youth Livestock Assn~~~ Liberty Hill
23-Apr ~~~Dewberry Festival~~~ Cameron
23-Apr Boomtown BBQ Blowout Burkburnett
23-Apr Mills Co. Goat c/o Goldwaite city park
23-Apr Rooster Motorcycle Rally Sweetwater
23-Apr White Dove of Hope Hempstead
23-Apr Derrick Days Corsicana
23-Apr Tx Paralyzed Vets State Championship
30-Apr ~~~Chappel Hill C/O~~~ Chappel Hill
30-Apr ~~~FFA Alumni Assoc~~~ Robinson
30-Apr Western Fest. & Expo Waco
30-Apr Annual SPCA BBQ C/O Quinlan
May
7-May BrucevilleEddy Mayfest~QC2 Eddy
7-May Howdy Roo Marble Falls
7-May Esteline
7-May May Days Festival Mineola
14-May C/O For The Cure Carrollton
June
4-Jun ~ Buckholts Cotton Fest--QC3 Buckholts
4-Jun Special Olympics Colleyville
4-Jun Happy Days C/O Happy
11-Jun Pioneer Days Alvord
11-Jun Gun Barrel City C/O Gun Barrel
11-Jun Oil Patch C/O Sundown
18-Jun ~~Holland Corn Festival~~ Holland
18-Jun Comm. Park Fund Raiser Deleon
18-Jun Big Country State Champ Abilene
26-Jun ~~~~~~~~Riverfest~~~~~~~ Bandera
July
2-Jul Aqua Boom BBQ Kingsland
2-Jul Who Burnt the Beans Novice
9-Jul Spring Ho Lampassas
16-Jul ~Seaton Star Hall C/O QC#4~ Seaton
August
6-Aug ~Morgan's Point Resort C/O~ Morgan's Point
6-Aug Dam Red Barn C/O Canyon Lake
September
10-Sep ~~Little River Catfish Assoc~ Academy Stewarts
Pecan Farm
10-Sep Ranch Rodeo Sweetwater
10-Sep Outlaws & Ladies BBQ Del Valle
TBA Sommerville K of C Sommerville
17-Sep ~Bartlett Downtown Festival~ Bartlett
17-Sep ~~~~~True to Texas~~~~~ Bandera
17-Sep Rally Round Greenville Greenville
24-Sep SPJST Taylor SPJST lodge
24-Sep Blowin in the Wind BBQ C/O Silverton
24-Sep Autumn In Bonham St.C/O Bonham
24-Sep Annual BBQ Midlothian
October
1-Oct ~~~~Manor Lions Club~~~~ Manor
1-Oct Lions Club Keller
1-Oct Sonora
8-Oct ~Florence Friendship Days~ Florence
15-Oct ~Bob Miracle Memorial C/O~ Temple Elks Lodge
15-Oct Leander VFW Leander
15-Oct Tonkawa Tradition Crawford
22-Oct ~Horny Toad Harley Davidson Belton
22-Oct ~~~~~Kerr co. Fair~~~~~ Kerrville Fair Grounds
22-Oct National Championship Meridain The Flats
TBA Harris Co. Fair Houston Farm and Ranch
November
5-Nov Lions Club c/o Fairfield Fair Grounds
12-Nov World Championship Hog Crowell
4-Jun ~ Buckholts Cotton Fest--QC3 Buckholts
4-Jun Special Olympics Colleyville
4-Jun Happy Days C/O Happy
11-Jun Pioneer Days Alvord
11-Jun Gun Barrel City C/O Gun Barrel
11-Jun Oil Patch C/O Sundown
18-Jun ~~Holland Corn Festival~~ Holland
18-Jun Comm. Park Fund Raiser Deleon
18-Jun Big Country State Champ Abilene
26-Jun ~~~~~~~~Riverfest~~~~~~~ Bandera
July
2-Jul Aqua Boom BBQ Kingsland
2-Jul Who Burnt the Beans Novice
9-Jul Spring Ho Lampassas
16-Jul ~Seaton Star Hall C/O QC#4~ Seaton
August
6-Aug ~Morgan's Point Resort C/O~ Morgan's Point
6-Aug Dam Red Barn C/O Canyon Lake
September
10-Sep ~~Little River Catfish Assoc~ Academy Stewarts
Pecan Farm
10-Sep Ranch Rodeo Sweetwater
10-Sep Outlaws & Ladies BBQ Del Valle
TBA Sommerville K of C Sommerville
17-Sep ~Bartlett Downtown Festival~ Bartlett
17-Sep ~~~~~True to Texas~~~~~ Bandera
17-Sep Rally Round Greenville Greenville
24-Sep SPJST Taylor SPJST lodge
24-Sep Blowin in the Wind BBQ C/O Silverton
24-Sep Autumn In Bonham St.C/O Bonham
24-Sep Annual BBQ Midlothian
October
1-Oct ~~~~Manor Lions Club~~~~ Manor
1-Oct Lions Club Keller
1-Oct Sonora
8-Oct ~Florence Friendship Days~ Florence
15-Oct ~Bob Miracle Memorial C/O~ Temple Elks Lodge
15-Oct Leander VFW Leander
15-Oct Tonkawa Tradition Crawford
22-Oct ~Horny Toad Harley Davidson Belton
22-Oct ~~~~~Kerr co. Fair~~~~~ Kerrville Fair Grounds
22-Oct National Championship Meridain The Flats
TBA Harris Co. Fair Houston Farm and Ranch
November
5-Nov Lions Club c/o Fairfield Fair Grounds
12-Nov World Championship Hog Crowell
| Competition Schedule for the Central Texas Barbecue Association 2010 |
| "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL BBQ & OUTDOOR EXPO” |
March 19-20, 2010 Dade City, Fl. Business Center Festival Courtyard