May is National BBQ Month and to celebrate I would love nothing more than to make a lifelong dream of mine come true. Regular readers of this blog know that I have fantasized of crisscrossing the country in search of the nation’s best ribs. But with gas prices nearing record highs it looks like my dream trip will be put on the back burner for at least another year.
However, if you have the time, money and appetite there’s no stopping you from heading out to some of the country’s biggest cookouts. I’m not just talking about any ol’ barbeque; the following grill extravaganzas are considered travel destinations in and of themselves. Not only do they give you the chance to sample some outrageously good barbecue, but they also feature fantastic live entertainment and tips for your own backyard banquet.
INTERNATIONAL BAR-B-Q FESTIVAL
The big BBQ fest takes place in Owensboro, Kentucky (which bills itself as the “Bar-B-Q Capital of the World”) during the second weekend in May. It features real hickory-stoked fires that heat up the most incredibly finger lickin’ good chicken, mutton and burgoo (a meat stew) you’ve ever wrapped your lips around. The festival also includes cooking and eating contests, arts & crafts booths, live bands, and a horseshoe tournament.
MEMPHIS IN MAY
From May 15-17, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest takes place at the annual Memphis in May International Festival. This is one event I promised myself I would attend before I die and I hope I will be able to make it happen. This BBQ extravaganza has been featured on the “Today” show, the Food Network and a variety of other cable channels, so there is a good chance you are already familiar with it. The cooking contest offers more than $90,000 in prizes and draws cooking teams from across the country. The event is often referred to as the “Super Bowl of Swine,” and once you visit the festival you’ll see why.
W.C. HANDY BLUES & BARBECUE FESTIVAL
In early June, music and BBQ mix at the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival in Henderson, Kentucky. The weeklong celebration bears the name of the man some consider the Father of the Blues. The mouthwatering event features mounds of barbeque and a huge helping of zydeco and blues bands.
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