Hot Competitions…Literally
This post will only include August events, unfortunately. My dad got sick and ultimately passed, so late June and July were a bit of a blur and I couldn’t complete the July festival research in time. Despite extremely high temps across the country, August has a decent amount of BBQ events happening around the country involving Barbecue competitions, Blues and COLD Brews—as well as other live music, cornhole, motorcycles…… [Links in festival names]
Aug 2-3
All American BBQ Throwdown | Westland, MI
Aug 2-3
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival | Cary, NC
Aug 2-3
Beat the Heat BBQ, Brews & Chili | Alamosa, CO
Aug 2-3
Dillard Bluegrass + Barbecue Festival | Dillard, GA
Aug 2-3
Hawgin’ on Lanier | Gainesville, GA
Aug 2-3
Holy Smokes BBQ Competition | Cincinnati, OH
Aug 2-3
Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | Laurie, MO
Aug 2-3
Pigs & Pedals | Asheboro, NC
Aug 3
Hometown BBQ Bash | Hoover, AL
Aug 3
Route 66 BBQ Blast/Guns & Hoses BBQ Showdown | Eureka, MO
Aug 3
Vista BBQ Classic | Vista, CA
Aug 3-4
Pit at the Park | Macungie, PA
Aug 3-4
Smoke in the Woods BBQ | Galway, NY
Aug 9-10
Big Blue Barbecue | Shelbyville, IN
Aug 9-10
GOBS QUE | Arlington, NE
Aug 9-10
Maryland State BBQ Bash | Bel Air, MD
Aug 9-10
Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show | Franklin, NC
Aug 9-10
Rt. 66 BBQ Throwdown | Springfield, MO
Aug 9-10
Smokin on the Dock of the Bay BBQ Competition | Crisfield, MD
Aug 9-10
Smokin’ Trackside BBQ & Brew Bash | Winston, MO
Aug 9-10
State BBQ Championship of Nebraska | Arlington, NE
Aug 9-10
Up in Smoke BBQ Bash | Mason City, IA
Aug 10
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival | Virginia Beach, VA
Aug 10
Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival | Oakhurst, GA
Aug 10
Milliken Beef N Bean Day BBQ Competition | Milliken, CO
Aug 11
Thrillin & Grillin | Saco, ME
Aug 16-17
BBQ on the River | Excelsior Springs, MO
Aug 16-17
Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest | Cape Girardeau, MO
Aug 16-17
Evansville BBQ Festival | Evansville, IN
Aug 16-17
Madison Ribberfest | Madison, IN
Aug 16-17
Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival: Saucy and Glazed BBQ Competition | Newton, KS
Aug 16-17
SMSU Smokefest | Marshall, MN
Aug 16-17
Western Legends BBQ Cook-Off | Kanab, UT
Aug 16-17
Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival | Worland, WY
Aug 16-18
Hudson Valley Ribfest | New Paltz, NY
Aug 16-18
Long Beach BBQ Festival | Long Beach, CA
Aug 16-18
McHenry Rotary Blues, Brews, BBQ | McHenry, IL
Aug 17
Kearney BBQ on the Bricks | Kearney, NE
Aug 17-18
Hudson Bay Heritage Days BBQ Cookoff | DuPont, WA
Aug 17-18
Lassen BBQ Cookoff | Susanville, CA
Aug 18
Turf & Surf BBQ | Del Mar, CA
Aug 23-24
Big Island BBQ Festival | Albert Lea, MN
Aug 23-24
Montana Pitmaster Classic | Bozeman, MT
Aug 23-24
New Holland Summer Fest | New Holland, PA
Aug 23-24
Paola Roots Festival | Paola, KS
Aug 23-24
Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival | Kennesaw, GA
Aug 23-24
Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship | Lubbock, TX
Aug 23-24
Wine, Brew & BBQ | Hill City, SD
Aug 23-25
Kora Kare for Kids Ride-In & BBQ Competition | Hiram, ME
Aug 24
Blues & Bones Festival | Eagle, ID
Aug 24
Death’s Door Bar-B-Q | Washington Island, WI
Aug 24
Great Americana BBQ Festival | Franklin, TN
Aug 24
Indiana Bacon Festival & Master Series Contest | Delphi, IN
Aug 24
Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition | Hammondsport, NY
Aug 24
Vine St BBQ Competition | Park Ridge, IL
Aug 24
Wild West BBQ Shoot Out | Wendover, NV
Aug 24-25
Half Way to St. Pat’s BBQ Contest | Emmetsburg, IA
Aug 24-25
Smokin on the Rez BBQ & Music Festival | Brandon, MS
Aug 28-Sep 2
Nugget Rib Cook-off | Sparks, NV
Aug 29-Sep 2
Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival | Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 30-31
Blue Ridge BBQ & Brew Festival | West Jefferson, NC
Aug 30-31
Chamber Low and Slow BBQ Contest | Nevada, MO
Aug 30-31
PigMania: Hilliard | Hilliard, OH
Aug 30-31
Smokin’ in the Bogs | Warrens, WI
Aug 30-31
PigMania Hilliard State Championship BBQ, Steak & Music Festival | Hilliard, OH
Aug 30-Sep 1
Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | Bedford, TX
Aug 30-Sep 1
Big Kahuna Wing Festival | Knoxville, TN
Aug 30-Sep 1
Crimson and Blue BBQ | Lawrence, KS
Aug 31-Sep 1
Big Muddy Brew ‘N Que | Winona, MN
Aug 31-Sep 1
Route 6 Ribfest | Coudersport, PA
Aug 31-Sep 1
Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff | Omaha, NE
