If you love both euphony and food , there ’s no well place to be than the world - far-famed month - long festivalMemphis in May . It kicked off May 4 with the Beale Street Music Festival and segues into the mid - month feasting phase at the four - dayWorld Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest . This class it ’s held May 16 to 19 at the Tom Lee Park along the banks of the Mississippi River . More than 200,000 hoi polloi attended in 2017 , and those in the know get their just the ticket early — which can pose a problem for contest - attend to rookies .
If you ’re attending , navigating the more than 230 teams can be , well , a bit overwhelming , so let ’s bug out with the rudiments : Getting in . You ’ll involve an admission ticket ; they ’re usable in single Clarence Shepard Day Jr. for $ 10 or $ 40 for the entire four - day result .
And this is a contest after all , so you definitely want to scout out your favorite teams . They ’re vie in four category : whole hog , shoulder , ribs and a " patio porker " family for amateurs . ( They ’re all vying for more than $ 120,000 in prize money.)Downloada competition map to avail pilot through the park where teams are grouped by family .
The bulk ( about 85 pct ) of the 2017 team who placed in the top 10 in the ribs , shoulder and whole hogget family are rejoin this year . Big Bob Gibson , 2017 ’s Grand Champion , who placed first in the shoulder family , is return to hold his titles ( he ’s won five Memphis in May World BBQ Grand Championships ) . Yazoo ’s Delta Q / Melissa Cookston(first place whole pig ) and10 Bones BBQ(first place ribs ) also will be back .
Even though more than 230 team from 25 state and around the world are vie this year , do n’t even seek to plan a scheme to samplebarbecuefrom them all . Health regulations keep rival from serving their barbeque to attendees . You will , however , be able to get your fill .
The first smirch is BBQ Alley , which features three well - known barbecue restaurants , plus Big Green Egg serving up all sort of the stuff , include ribs , pulled pork , beef and chicken , complete with side .
If you ’re more inclined to run through and retch your vote for the practiced barbeque , you ’d have to be one of the lucky people to have scored a ticket for the Kingsford Tour of Champions . ( regrettably — ticket for the 2018 KTOC are sold out . ) Each tour is about 90 second , and Guest get to listen to the teams explain their barbeque while tasting and judgment . There are three tours each on Thursday and Friday , and guest inspect at least three different barbecue teams . These ticket are ADHD - ons , and there are only 90 spots for each tour .
But the good experience you could buy comes with the VIPit Pass — a tag that incur you a friendly competition scout , a private dining area and a chance to go behind - the - scenes with up to six teams . These ticket are limited — and also sell out for 2018 .
you may also pick up some hint to impress at your next family reunification . Do the free Cooker Caravan tour — a sojourn to some of the best contender in each category . You ’ll be inspired with an insider look at smokers , grill , cooking techniques and tool .
Finally , bring cash : All the solid food is hard currency only , and you’re able to matter on lines at the ATMs . And do n’t get defraud — avoid the scalper and get your ticket from TicketMaster or inside the ground .
