The largest BBQ contest in the world would make a nice October 5 trip. http://m.americanroyal.com/events_detail.aspx?id=162&fmp=category&category=23 With over 500 teams competing in four meat categories, The Joe's Kansas City Open Contest is the largest barbecue contest in the world! Combine this with a barbecue-related trade expo, live music, fireworks, and a Kids' Korral of family-fun, this four-day food festival is truly the "World Series of Barbecue®".
Please understand the American Royal BBQ Contest is a competition, not a sampling event. Due to food safety regulations, sampling of contest foods is prohibited. Entry to the American Royal World Series of Barbecue; includes the opportunity to witness more than 500 teams competing in the largest BBQ event in the world, a Food Court with many options available for purchase, Live Entertainment, entrance in the Marketplace/Expo, Kids Korral (Saturday 10am-3pm), Cooking Demonstrations, Barbecue Hall of Fame Ceremony (Saturday 7pm) and more. Sampling of contest foods is not-included in event entry.
"The only time you should fear cast iron is if your wife is fixin' to hit you with it."-Kent Rollins First law of science: don't spit into the wind.