The frustrating elements of weather and other unforeseen situations can often limit our sense of pride in the USA. However, that does not stop the efforts of one organization that refuses to surrender to the COVID-19 pandemic. One particular American tradition is upholding that spirit through going viral itself to fight against this growing epidemic. The Giant National Capital BBQ of Washington, DC will take their event to the next level and go online via live-streaming this June. Instead of 100,000 visitors gathering at our capital, they will be joining in from their home via live stream.

In full support of their efforts, we are helping to spread the news by providing you with the latest information. This bold and impressive month-long BBQ Battle will be an amazing virtual experience that includes fun for the whole family. Here are the latest details for their Live BBQ event that will include free activities for everyone.

Who is behind this incredible event?

Giant Food is the main sponsor of the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle, now celebrating its 28^th?year holding this festival. It?s held in downtown Washington DC along the historic Pennsylvania Avenue every year in late June. For those who don’t know, Giant Food is the largest supermarket chain serving Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the DC area. With over 163 supermarket locations they have combined convenience and customer service in many of their stores.

They are a proud supporter of USO-Metro raising hundreds of thousands of dollars every year through private and public donations. From their event, the showdown of the Nations’s top BBQ challengers shows their BBQ skills in several cook-off contests. This year their 2-day festival is now a month-long exhibition that takes BBQ into a virtual online world stage.

What can we expect to see this year?

An impressive line-up has been slowly building to showcase the finest BBQ Pitmasters. They are not only showing-off their grilling skills, but their finished delicacies will also help benefit those who are home viewers. Raising money for the Capital Area Food Bank and the USO-Metro, they have added a BBQ Feast package. Within their website, they have added a special App that allows residents to purchase BBQ Feast packages. This allows families to have fresh BBQ dishes delivered to their homes to combat the COVID-19 restrictions.

See Facebook Event Page ***** See Twitter Event Page

They will also daily feature live cooking demonstrations filled with grilling tips and tricks from participating BBQ professionals. Learn all the latest recipes and directly from BBQ legends and top Pitmasters from all across the Nation. You’ll also have no shortage of grill-off contests featuring interactive prizes, shopping sprees, and chances to enter your BBQ recipes. All contests will allow live voting where you can select and judge your favorite BBQ dishes. Every day will offer something different for those who love BBQ with a passion.

Of course, the wide selection of music with the BBQ Battle of the Bands is brought back bigger than ever. There will be two separate music stages with a third being added by popular demand. Have a daily dose of past favorites and all new entries from all across the country.

You and your family can enjoy live music covering jazz and blues, rock and reggae, and R & B music categories. Not to forget they have also added an interactive Giant Kids Zone. There will be plenty of games and activities to keep your family busy all day long.

There will also be an expanded Giant Corks to Caps virtual experience that covers wine and beer topics. Learn about wine pairing and expert tasting tips while beer enthusiasts can have the latest info about new beer varieties.

Why this BBQ event is bigger than ever?

As a proud sponsor of the USO-Metro and military families, Giant Food has been effortless in its support. Those who register to view this unique event will have the opportunity to donate through a digital payment online. As this is the first time in our recent history that a pandemic is an unseen enemy, timing is everything. This is why an entire month is devoted to raising awareness to fight COVID-19 while safely keeping social distancing. Giant Food also is exclusively handling all the BBQ Feast food delivery in addition to their standard supermarket delivery.

It’s especially helpful to the residents and families within our Nations’s capital and surrounding States. There is still plenty of time to register to be part of this event before it begins. Their website adds new information every day so viewers can plan weekly events with all of your family.

Our national BBQ must go on! June 2020 https://bbqindc.com/

A gastronomical competition? What is more mouth-watering than BBQ? I can hear you loud and clear! meat lovers all over the world. American Royal World Series of BBQ got you covered, it originated in Kansas City, United States where it all started as a small competition that has become the most single largest barbecue competition event in the world. Comprising of 400-500 barbecue teams competing in 4 different categories for their own title. It is the most awaited, most grand competition and festival now in its 41st year legacy. Where competitive barbecue enthusiast and pit masters flock from all over the world to skillfully showcase their signature sauces, rubs, marinades, techniques, preparations and styles which comes all together through a cook off and only the best of the best will remain to be standing and hit the title Grand Champion. All kinds of meat and BBQ is presented during the event making it hard for event participants and judges in choosing the finest of them all. Its quite fascinating as well that these teams already has a lot of fans and people who support their favorites since its been a yearly event. The Culinary journey and simultaneous stimuli of tastes never disappoint the crowd. It is not only the hustle and bustle of the cooking competition that livens the event, there is more! live local music, BBQ demos, Delicious BBQ, local food, cocktail garden, beer, BBQ Marketplace vendor fair of authentic local products and a full line up of kids activity.

History

The roots of American Royal before having the barbecue event dated back in 1899 which was known for having the National Hereford Show, selling of purebred cattle. It featured 541 Herefords, with 300 Herefords that has an average selling price of $334. Estimated attendees was 55,000. A tent in the Kansas City Stockyards, the agricultural hub of the Midwest is where it was held. A more permanent structure was built in 1908 by the Kansas City Stockyards and became the home of the American Royal until 1922 when the 1st permanent structure solely purposed for the American Royal was built. Tragedy struck the building in 1925 when it burnt down during an auto show, but it was quickly rebuilt and made readily available for the next American Royal season. That building housed American Royal until 1991 when it was torn down to make way for the more current American Royal complex. The show had officially became the American Royal in 1902 after C.F. Curtiss, the dean of agriculture at the Iowa State College of Agriculture, made comparison to the show with the British Royal Agricultural Fair. Attendance continues to overflowed as the show opened up to more breeds and species and soon it became an established Kansas City tradition.

The official American Royal Horse Show occurred 1st in 1905 with the help of the prominent horse trainer Tom Bass. Loula Long Combs performed in her first American Royal horse show on the following year. Loula belongs from a prominent Kansas City family who were known in the country for owning some of the best horses. Both Tom Bass and Loula Long Combs pioneered and became prominent figures of the American Royal Horse Show. She was often greeted with a crowd standing ovation while entering the ring on her phaeton with two of her Boston bulldogs riding with her. Loula continued to compete at the horse show for over 50 years, often winning. Today the American Royal features several horse shows varying from renowned trainers and stables.

The two events that that were soon added at the American Royal season are the rodeo and barbecue contest. The first American Royal Rodeo was held in together with the first dairy show during the spring in 1949. The dairy show and rodeo dissolve operation in 1951, but the rodeo made a surprised comeback in 1965 and remained a yearly spring activity. In was moved to the fall season in 1976 with the first American Royal PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) who sanctioned the rodeo. The rodeo usually highlighted with concerts of famous prominent country singers including Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, and Garth Brooks. The first American Royal Barbecue Contest was held in 1980, it started as small competition and quickly grew in popularity. In 1998. It officially became the ?The World?s Largest Barbecue? with 340 competitive teams competing. Today, The World Series of Barbecue serves as the largest fundraiser for the American Royal.

American Royal is a non-profit organization founded in Kansas City. Providing opportunities for youth and adults from all around the country to compete in Livestock Show, Rodeo, and Horse Shows. Many people know American Royal thru World Series of Barbecue. Through this event it made it possible to open the door to raise over $1 million annually for youth scholarships and support the agriculture education programs. This event therefore play a big part in shaping the country’s future

For over a century, the American Royal has played a major key to in developing Kansas City history. Through multiple buildings, events and programs, The American Royal has transformed into what it is today. The American Royal continues as a Kansas City tradition offering excellent opportunities for scholarships, education, and competition from all around the country for youth and adults who attend the programs.

Events/ Entries/ Other Things to do

Registration for the 2020 American Royal World Series of Barbecue is now open. The health and safety of the guest is highly prioritized by the management. With changes due to COVID-19 timelines and contest information may change. If event details, guidelines and/or operation detail change and update competing teams will be notified and the website will be updated as well.

The World Series of Barbecue Open Meat Competition is available to any and all teams who would like to come down and show off what they got, specially their BBQ cooking skills. There is no qualifier for the open competition. The contest is sanctioned by KCBS and participating teams must turn in at least one protein from the four main (Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Boston Butt and Beef Brisket).

For Invitational Competition many teams and contest organizer have been forced to cancel or postpone contests and may not have the chance to qualify for this year. A former Grand Champion will be eligible teams for the invitational participants from a qualifying contest through their partnering sanctioning bodies from June 30,2018 – July 1, 2020.

The Festival will be a two-day event. It will have a live local music, delicious food, beer and cocktails, a car show, a BBQ Marketplace and activities for the kids. There is surely something for everyone to enjoy.

The Pros

Pitmaster Fred Robles of Weslaco, Texas-based owner of Rio Grande Meat is a two-time winner in American Royal World Series of Barbecue. Rio Valley Meat BBQ team was named 2017’s World Barbecue Champion at the 2017 World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama on Nov. 12. Robles took home a $10,000 prize for the win. At his first attempt Fred not only made it to top 10 but claimed the title. But there is no stopping him as he claimed his victory at the 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue in 2019. He won several competitions as well across the country and given back to the community who with the help of Big Poppa Smokers and Smithfield, donated $8,500 to Estrellas’s House, a childhood advocacy center in Edinburg. Truly he knows how to extend his blessings to others

Pitmaster Darren and Sherry Warth of Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ took home the Grand Champion title on Sept. 17, 2018. The husband and wife team who owned a restaurant have taken the competitive circuit by storm above 466 competing team not only won the 39th Grand Champion title but it’s the 3rd time in six years that they snatched that title. Also they are on top on the game in some other categories as well which really says about a lot about their passion for their craft.

What a Newbie in BBQ Competition Could Expect?

A participant Todd Johns of Plowboys Barbecue as the Grand Champion at the 2009 Invitational, Open-Reserve Champion in 2010, Grand Champion awards for his brisket in 2009 and his pork in 2008. Gives his insights about the vibes, what was it like and he says it’s like a party and a family reunion, with some 600 teams competing including a 20 international teams representing 11 countries in the flagship food events. He explains that each team cooks about 120-150 pounds of meat per contest, 2-4 butts, 3-6 slabs or ribs, 1-2 dozen pieces of chicken, 2 whole briskets. Participants should arrive at the event with everything they plan to use. There are a couple of different experiences, John says that it depends to what your weekend looks like. Some are in the invitational, some open, and some both. He noted that for the teams that are cooking the invitational, some the open, and some cooking in two very important back to back contests. By the time you’re starting your turn-ins for the invitational, you’re starting your food for the open. They have to pace themselves and be focused he added.

Anything Interesting about Winning Recipes Entries/Etc.

Most of the recipes have their own uniqueness in the smallest detail. The interesting part is one needs to be meticulous choosing meat and farm supplier, It might sound very simple but it is really a big game changer, it is the meats premium quality. Only the top quality meats can really produce the best result but ofcourse with the Chef’s cooking skills and mastered cooking methods. What catches the BBQ enthusiast more engaging in this event is that the American Royal World Series of Barbecue are selling the blend of rubs which the champions used. The good thing is they can replicate the BBQ dish on their own at the comfort of their home.

The winning Entry dishes keeps the competition on flick and very much alive. It is for sure setting the standards that makes the game on for being the best. Yearly setting restaurant owners, chefs and pitmasters vigorously training, developing and mastering their techniques to win this prestige title everyone’s been dreaming to have. As it does not only represents perfection but also the beauty of the challenge it brings that is worth the pain and the hustle.

The sauces and rubs explicitly assembled to bring out heavenly flavors are well orchestrated and known by heart by the people who loved good food such as aspiring participant teams of this event. Even smoking process is crucial that is what makes it beautiful. that is what makes it art.

Any Other Relevant Topics that may be helpful to someone looking to know more about this event.

For locals that are interested to be a partner vendor of the event this is what you are looking for. Some information on the site should be considered such as; you will gain exposure to the fans, exhibitors, and participants that will attend American Royal events as a vendor in the American Royal Marketplace. At the heart of the American Royal?s Grand Hall, the bustling Marketplace is centrally located and is your chance to reach out to this high foot traffic. This is your very good chance to tap into a niche that is excited to be in Kansas City. A display of chic Western apparel and decor, and horse and livestock merchandise to agriculture materials, our event participants are looking for rare and exceptional finds. For any concerns, please reach marketplace@americanroyal.com.

The Sauce Contest is part of the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Competitions, this contest is the largest BBQ sauce contest in the world with nearly 400 entries from countries across the world. The entry will be judged in a blind tasting on their appearance, texture, taste alone, and taste on unseasoned barbecue meat. Categories are Mild, Hot, Vinegar, Mustard and Specialty. The American Royal is postponing the judging date for the 33rd Annual American Royal Sauce Contest that is scheduled for May 3, 2020. The team will be working to establish a new judging date and will notify all contestants, judges and KCBS once it has been determined. The top awarded sauce in each category will be crowned first place in that category and the overall highest score will be named the 2020 Best Sauce on the Planet.

The contest is not cancelled. In fact, the deadlines for submitting sauces have been extended and registrations/shipments will be accepted until further notice. A new deadline for submissions will be announced on a later date. Please review the event packet for updated information at the official website: https://www.americanroyal.com/bbq/may-events/sauce-contest/

What is it?

If there is one of the biggest BBQ events in the entire country it will include the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. It is the world’s largest barbecue event that is now held at the Kansas Speedway! This 4-day event includes over 500 BBQ teams that compete until the final winners are narrowed-down by special judges. Each competition includes categories of BBQ meats and side dishes. Various contests also include a sauce and rub competitions likewise. Each year 3 new inductees are added to the Barbecue Hall of Fame.

In the spirit of BBQ and Pitmaster cooking, this World Series event is a one-of-a-kind experience that continues to grow yearly. It welcomes newcomers as well as seasoned pros to come out and show off their BBQ skills and their best-grilled specialties. This world series of barbecue speedway event also attracts thousands of BBQ lovers all across Kansas and other US states. The categories for BBQ meats include everything from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and side dishes including vegetables and potatoes.

It?s also a full venue for live music, food and drink, a BBQ marketplace, and 40 years of BBQ tradition. This is the prime event that is so large they needed to move it to the Kansas Speedway! This year is expected to be bigger than ever.

History of WS BBQ

The world series of barbecue has been around for 40 years and was organized by the American Royal in 1980. Since 1899 the exhibition cattle shows grew enormously in Kansas so it only seemed natural to add a BBQ show. Initially there weren?t many contestants who came out for the first BBQ contest. It was originally held in the parking lot of the legendary Kansas City Steakhouse: The Golden Ox. After this event started growing in popularity, each year added a new layer of interest as well as contestants.

It only took 19 years for the World Series of BBQ to officially become the world?s largest BBQ event in 1989. There were 400 competing teams attending that year, and since then, it has attracted over 600 hopefuls each year! The event was later moved to the American Royal complex parking lot in Kansas City. By 2015 this event had grown so much that it was moved to the Arrowhead Stadium due to the crowds. By the next year the new location became the Kansas Speedway and has remained there ever since.

The barbecue hall of fame is also an interesting history that is now part of the World Series of BBQ. It all started with the internet back in 1995 when thebbqforum.com first began posting topics devoted to everything about BBQ. At that time nobody knew the massive interest that would evolve into a major internet sensation. By 2007, the website owners Mike Tucker and Ray Basso introduced the Barbecue Hall of Fame. The rights were later sold to American Royal and also inherited 7 of the most influential names in BBQ history. Each year they induct 3 new members into this society at each World Series BBQ event.

Previous Winners

This is the ultimate proving grounds for serious folks who are devoted to BBQ. They share a passion for just the right amount of smoke and BBQ sauce. In many cases there isn’t an exact science behind slow cooking on a barbecue, only the persistence of patience. Previous winners have gone onto larger endeavors while others move onto selling BBQ products. Here are samples of the previous winners who have taken top awards at this showdown BBQ cook-off competition in 2019.

? First Place Brisket: 4 Legs Up

They started with a restaurant and now have moved forward with BBQ classes and seminars. They also have a successful Youtube channel teaching their BBQ technique to others.

? First Place Pork Ribs: Smokin? Hooks

Based out of Portland Texas, Ryan Deal has won several awards and 3 grand champion awards since 2016. He takes his BBQ passion to many of the top BBQ cook-off events every year. You can find him on his Instagram page at #smokinhooks detailing the BBQ lifestyle.

? First Place Pork: Shiggin & Grinnin

Their claim to fame has earned them the title of: Kings of Barbecue?. They also have national TV coverage on shows including Pit Masters and Destination America on the Discovery Channel.

? First Place Sausage: Traeger Grills & Diva Q

Superstars like Diva Q aren?t just cooking up a storm, she wrote the book on it. Her self-titled BBQ books share her passion for grilling and Pitmaster cooking. Traeger grills are an expert line of wood pellet BBQ grills that are a top name in the wood-fired BBQ grill industry also.

? First Place Chicken: Who Cares BBQ

A dedicated grill team out of North Carolina that is playing the grass-roots card to the finish line. They even enlisted 99designs to hold a contest to design their new grill logo. Their Facebook page details all their newest competition wins.

? First Place Turkey: On The Dotte Smokers

If you can win first place from grilling and smoking turkey, you must be pretty talented at everything else. They also have a grass-roots Facebook page that details their BBQ triumphs.

Side dish categories

? First Place Baked Beans: Sugarfire Smokehouse

Despite winning first place for just baked beans, the Sugarfire Smokehouse in St. Louis has excellent BBQ awards all over the country. They even won praise from mega-rapper Snoop Dog who loves their award-winning BBQ delicacies.

? First Place Potatoes: Grillas BBQ Team

This Kansas based BBQ team takes their BBQ seriously by making the circuit rounds at least a dozen times a year. Known for their award-winning BBQ sauces, they first made their mark in 2003. Entering the American Royal and winning the open as grand champs!

? First Place Vegetables: Two Butts & a Ham

Who says veggies aren?t good for you? This grill team takes their grilling skills to competitions all over the country. They have been graced even further by the American Royal top prize as a result.

? First Place Dessert: Pork Barrel BBQ

These boys from Missouri have a passion for BBQ and led them to make their first BBQ seasoning rub and then moved into the sauce market. They have been on the TV show Shark Tank and secured financing for their BBQ sauce line. Last year they took first prize for a dessert entry at the World Series of BBQ speedway event!

Scheduled competitions and events

Nearly anyone can enter the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, but you do need to meet their criteria. Once you have been confirmed, the types of competition and events are spectacular. The categories for grilling include beef brisket or Boston butt, pork ribs or pork shoulder, and chicken. These can be entered into the Open Meat Competition and there is also an Invitational competition. This is reserved for previous teams who couldn?t attend in the last 2 years.

Other contests include a sauce and rub competition that allows teams to introduce their newest BBQ flavors. Some entries include turkey, sausage, baked beans, vegetables, side dishes, and desserts! In recent years they have also included international guests to compete alongside American BBQ Pitmasters. This is one World Series of BBQ speedway event that celebrates smoking grills from all over the world. Each event is judged according to rank and final results are then tallied.

If that wasn?t enough, they have also added a Kid?s Que contest for junior Pitmasters. At this special contest age groups between 6-15 years of age can cook steak and hamburgers. This competition is sponsored by Weber and is boasted as the largest kids BBQ in the country. You don?t want to miss this year?s World Series of Barbecue event that will make the Kansas Speedway sizzle with excitement. Be sure to check it out!