The 2015 Big BBQ Bash is set for June 24 and 25 at Founder’s Square in historic downtown Maryville, TN, located at the scenic foothills of the Smoky Mountains.  The event is a professional barbecue cook-off and fundraiser for the Helen Ross McNabb Center, created as a legacy project by the Leadership Blount Class of 2007.

 

This is the Big BBQ Bash’s third year as a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. KCBS sanctions barbecue and grilling competitions across the U.S. and promotes barbecue as America’s cuisine. In addition, KCBS has an extensive Certified Barbecue Judging program.

 

More than 40 teams from across the country will compete. Categories include pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, dessert and a special Wampler’s Farm Sausage category. Prize money totaling $10,000 will be awarded including a trophy and, of course, bragging rights for the top three teams in each category.  The 2015 grand champion team, Smoke on This, took home last year’s grand prize.

 

Governor Bill Haslam has proclaimed the Blount County Big BBQ Bash as a state championship, making the competition a qualifier for the American Royal Barbecue Cook-Off and Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. Some teams choose to sell their award-winning barbecue, while other teams save it all for the competition. If teams choose to sell, barbecue will be available for purchase on Friday evening and midday Saturday. The Big BBQ Bash is a part of Summer on Broadway, a 2-day festival featuring food and activities for the entire family.  For more information about Summer on Broadway visit www.summeronbroadway.net.

 

To register a barbecue team or for sponsorship information, please visit the official event website, www.blountbbqbash.com. For more information, contact Beth Farrow at (865) 329-9030 or beth.farrow@mcnabb.org.

 

Since its inception in 2007, the Big BBQ Bash has raised more than $125,000. All proceeds from the 2015 Big BBQ Bash will benefit mental health, addiction and social services provided by the Helen Ross McNabb Center.