Food and Beverage Blog

Pitmasters are just as competitive as they are secretive of their barbecue. So of course there are competitions to prove who is the best of the best. Every year competitions bring pitmasters and attendees from everywhere a chance to show off what they can do, share information, maybe take some classes, sample foods and usually listen to some great live music. So here are some of the country’s best Barbeque festivals.

Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue

This is the big times. Everyone who competes here has already beaten at least 50 other teams in a barbecue competition or state championship competition. This two day competition is held each fall at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

But the real winners are the visitors cause they get to sample all the teams entries.

Memphis in May World Championship

One full mile of barbecue competition, vending, music, and more, now this is a long mile Id love to walk through, twice. This three days competition of takes place right on the bank of the Mississippi River and next to Beale Street.

Besides trying out the food you also have a change to judge in the People’s Choice contest and there is even a Cooker’s Caravan giving you a behind-the-scenes looks at competition cooking and a chance to talk with the pitmasters.

National BBQ Festival

In Georgia they do more than just peaches. They know BBQ. Each year the best of the best from all the counties competitions are invited to Douglas, Georgia’s Two day National BBQ Festival Best of the Best Competition, but there are more cook-offs in other categories for backyard cooks, kids, and masters of sweet potato pie. You can also visit different food vendors, antiques auctions, listen to some great music each fall.

American Royal Barbecue

Since 1980, The American Royal Barbecue brings in 500+ competitors to both the invitational and open competition. At this fair you’ll find a Texas Hold’em tournament, a rodeo event, a concerts, and of course all the BBQ goodness you can stand. So if you find yourself in Kansas City, Kansas during the fall, stop on by.

Big Pig Jig

If you like pig you need to check out the Big Pig Jig in Vienna, Georgia. Originally it was a whole-hog cooking contest, it has now expanded to include stew, ribs, sauce, etc. More than 20,000 people come and enjoy a week long festival of meats, arts-and-crafts fair, concerts, golf tournament, hog show, hog call contest, and a 5K run ( you gotta burn off those calories so you can go back and eat more!

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

To show that the south aren’t the only ones who can BBQ, In 2003 for two summer days at New York’s Madison Square Park, some of the biggest names in Barbecue come together to show off their skills, do seminars on all things barbecue.