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Campgrounds with BBQ Competitions

Jeff Crider shares campgrounds around the country with sizzling BBQ competitions worth visiting!

Many people love cooking their food outdoors, especially on a barbecue. There are also many campgrounds that host both amateur and professional barbecue competitions. The RVers who happen to camp there during these competitions are taking place are in for a treat because many of the competitors are willing to share samples.

“We do everything from briskets to ribs, chicken, and pork shoulder. We’ll roast them all night and in the morning we’ll cut the best cuts we can get out of the meat,” said Javier Muniz II of Low Rent BBQ in Waukesha, Wisconsin, who regularly competes in barbecue competitions sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS).

Many of the people who compete are professionals. “They spend hours, days, and months preparing,” he said.

For more than a decade, in fact, Muniz has competed in the Puckaway Pigfest Barbecue Competition, a KCBS-sanctioned event that is scheduled for September 8-9 at Lake Arrowhead Campground in Montello, Wisconsin.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun, especially if you win!” said Eric Ferguson of Big E BBQ in Huntley, Illinois, who has been competing in Lake Arrowhead Campground's Puckaway Pigfest Barbecue Competition for eight years.

“We get to enjoy the campground. Everybody stays most of the weekend and hangout and barbecue there,” he said, adding that he also competes in the Smoking in the Bogs BBQ Competition, which is scheduled for September 1-2 at the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Warrens, Wisconsin.

Here’s a sampling of other professional and amateur barbecue competitions taking place across the country this year:

April 8 — Noccalula Falls Campground in Gadsen, Alabama: This campground will host a “Smoke on the Falls” barbecue competition, presented by the local Parks and Recreation Department. The highlight of the weekend is the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-certified barbecue contest pitting 60 plus teams through the professional and backyard division.

April 15 — Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol, Connecticut: This park will host the inaugural Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown featuring barbecued ribs and pizza.

April 22-23 — Triple Brook Camping Resort in Blairstown, New Jersey: This campground will host KCBS-certified Masters and Backyard contests as well as Master of Chicken and Master of Ribs competitions.

April 28-30 — Spring Mill State Campground in Mitchell, Indiana: The Friends of Spring Mill State Park Campground BBQ Competition will be held at this campground on the last weekend of April.

May 5-7 — Delaware Beaches Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Lincoln, Delaware: This campground will host KCBS-certified Masters and Backyard contests as well as Master of Chicken and Master of Ribs competitions.

June 9-10 — Ditto Landing Campground in Huntsville, Alabama: This campground is hosting its 7th annual KCBS-certified Backyard competition.

Aug. 11-13, Green Lake Campground in Green Lake, Wisconsin: This campground will host its 11th annual barbecue competition. There will also be kids activities and live music.

Sept. 8-10 — Abel Mountain Campground in Randolph, Vermont: This campground will host its 8th annual KCBS-certified Masters and Backyard contests as well as Master, Master of Chicken, Master of Ribs and “made with maple” competitions.

Sept. 22-23 — , Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: This park will host its 9th annual “Grillers Cup,” with chicken wing, barbecue and pork butt competitions and tastings.

Sept 22-24 — Sodom Mountain Campground in Southwick, Massachusetts: This campground will host its 5th annual “Nor’Easter BBQ Showdown” with KCBS-certified Masters, Ribs and “Chowdah” competitions.

Oct. 20-21, Hart Springs RV Park Campground in Ball, Florida: This park will host a “BBQ from the Hart” competition. There will also be food vendors, a kid’s fun zone, and cornhole and horseshoe tournaments.

Oct. 20-22 — Butterfly Camping Resort in Jackson, New Jersey: This campground will host its 10th annual KCBS-certified Masters and Backyard contests as well as Master, Master of Chicken, Master of Ribs, “Barbecue from my Homeland,” and “Turkey Smoke” competitions.

October 26-28 — Camp Mack in Lake Kissimmee, Florida: Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey lodge, marina and RV resort, will host its annual “Rock n Brew BBQ Competition,” a Florida Barbecue Association (FBA)-sanctioned event with Professional and Backyard divisions, a kids cookoff, an ancillary contest, and a bonfire party. The event will also include barbecue vendors, a craft fair and live music.

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BBQ Competition
Jeff Crider

Author

Jeff Crider, President and CEO of Crider Public Relations, has been involved in covering the campground industry for over 25 years. Jeff has worked as a freelance writer for publications such as RV Business, Motor Home Magazine, Trailer Life, Highways and other Affinity Group Inc. publications since 1995. He has also successfully pitched many of the nation's top tier media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Financial Times, Reuters, The Associated Press and National Public Radio. In addition to writing, Jeff is also a talented photographer and humanitarian.