BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon
Quick Event Details
- Date & Time:
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 12 PM – 6 PM,
Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 12 PM – 4 PM
- Location:
Ko-Kwel Casino | Coos Bay
- Address:
3201 Tremont Ave, North Bend, OR 97459
13th Annual BBQ Brews Blues & Bourbon on the Bay
Coming up on the 13th year, BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon on the Bay has grown to be one of Ko-Kwel Casino Resort’s most well-attended signature events. Get ready for two days of lip-smackin’ BBQ, incredible brews, and smokin’ hot tunes! Join us May 23 – 24, 2026.
Table of Contents
How it Works
$5 entry fee gets you into the event each day. Participating vendors will have a 2 oz. sample of BBQ for sale.
Event Hours
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 12 PM – 6 PM
Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 12 PM – 4 PM
Team Registration and Regulations
To register your team for 2026, fill out the Team Entry form. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must compete in the four main categories. Categories are: Brisket, Pork, Ribs, and Chicken.
Sanctioned by KCBS
The BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon on the Bay event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS). The Kansas City Barbecue Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and enjoying barbeque.
KCBS sanctions over 500 barbeque contests coast-to-coast throughout America. KCBS sends two of their reps to each competition to ensure the cooks follow all rules and regulations and to oversee the judging process.
Schedule: BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon
Saturday, May 23
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | The Strange Tones
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Texas Flood
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Inner Limits
Sunday, May 24
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Inner Limits
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | The Strange Tones
- 4:15 PM | Awards
Judging for BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon
How Judging Works
The competitors will be cooking all Saturday night. Then, starting on Sunday at 11:00 AM, every 30 minutes, they will begin turning in their products. KCBS has strict requirements about how all of the meats shall be prepared and turned in. The four standard categories are: Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork, and Beef Brisket
The categories will be judged in the following order
Chicken – 11:00 AM
Pork Ribs – 11:30 AM
Pork – 12:00 PM
Beef Brisket – 12:30 PM
Bourbon – 1:30 PM
(Times are subject to change)
Awards: BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon
On Sunday at 4:15 PM in the Event Tent, we will be awarding $15,000 in prize money! The competition pays the top 10 places in each of the four base categories (chicken, pork ribs, pork, brisket and bourbon) as well as a bonus for the Grand champion, Reserve Grand Champion and Third Runner Up. Each guest will receive a People’s Choice voting slip when they pay to enter the event.
On Saturday, it’s all about ANYTHING BOURBON! Guests can vote for their favorite by dropping their slip at the info tent at the end of each day. For the People’s Choice votes, the teams with the most votes each day will win $250 each!
Teams
Team Registration and Regulations:
The entry fee is $300- $350 per team. To register your team for 2026, fill out the Team Entry form.
To be eligible for the grand prize, you must compete in the four main categories. Categories are: Brisket, Pork, Ribs, Chicken and Bourbon.
Sampling:
Competitors will have the opportunity to sell 2 oz. sample portions on Saturday from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM and on Sunday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Samples can be any barbecue themed item.
Set Up & Tear Down
Competitors may begin setting up in their designated space from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, May 23, 2025. Competitors must be completely set up and have all vehicles removed by 11:00 AM on Saturday.
Tear down is on Sunday, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. No tear down is to occur before that time for the safety of guests at the event.
Team Hotel Rooms
Competitors receive a special discount rate. RV Park spots are still available!
Accommodations
To book a hotel room or RV space during the BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon on the Bay event, guests simply need to call Ko-Kwel Casino Resort’s Reservation Center at 800-953-4800 to check availability (online reservations for this event are not available, please call to check availability).
You must inform our Reservation Agents that you are attending the BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon on the Bay event. This event will sell out!
Nearby Attractions
Ko-Kwel Casino Resort is located in Coos Bay, Southern Oregon, and the area offers a range of attractions for both nature lovers and thrill seekers.