BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon
Join us Memorial Day Weekend
Finger lickin’ good barbecue, hand-crafted beers and smokin’ hot tunes at the BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon on the Bay, Memorial Day Weekend. Whether you’re a grill master or just love to eat great barbecue, this event is for you.
May 23 & 24, 2026
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!
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
Entertainment Schedule
Saturday, May 23, 2026
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, 2026
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Inner Limits
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | The Strange Tones
4:15 PM | Awards
Judging
The competitors will be cooking all Saturday night. Then, starting on Sunday at 11 AM, every 30 minutes, they will begin turning in their products.
How Judging Works
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
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 and brisket) 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!
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.
Teams
We had an all-star lineup for the 2026 BBQ Blues Brews & Bourbon. Interested in competing? Find additional info here.
Team Registration & 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 and Chicken.
Sampling
Competitors will have the opportunity to sell 2 oz. sample portions on Saturday from 12 PM – 6 PM and on Sunday from 12 PM – 4 PM. Samples can be any barbecue themed item.
ALL SAMPLES AVAILABLE AT FESTIVAL ARE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Winners
On Sunday at 4:15 PM in the event tent, we will be awarding over $15,000 in prize money! The competition pays the top 10 places in each of the four base categories (chicken, pork ribs, pork and brisket) as well as a bonus for the Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion and third runner up.
The team with the most votes for People’s Choice for Anything Bourbon on Saturday wins $500.
2025 Winners
- Grand Champion: Crooked Pigs
- Grand Champion: Crooked Pigs (With a 700 score)
- Reserve Grand Champion: Vitamin Q BBQ
- Third Place Overall: Bar-B-Cuda BBQ
- First Place Chicken: Bone Rubbin BBQ
- First Place Ribs: Crooked Pigs (perfect score)
- First Place Pork: Crooked Pigs (perfect score)
- First Place Brisket: Pit 71 BBQ
- People’s Choice Mac ‘n Cheese: Goodwoods BBQ
- People’s Choice Oyster: Goodwoods BBQ
Set Up & Tear Down
Competitors may begin setting up in their designated space from
2 PM – 7 PM on Friday, May 23, 2025. Competitors must be completely set up and have all vehicles removed by 11 AM on Saturday.
Tear down is on Sunday, from 5 PM – 9 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!