When you’re looking for an inexpensive, family-friendly, finger-lickin’ good time, look no further than Memphis, Tennessee’s World Championship Barbecue-Cooking Contest. For three days in mid May Tom Lee Park is filled with more than 200 teams of big-bellied men competing on their grills for over $100,000 in prizes and supreme bragging rights. Taste, appearance, presentation, tenderness and technique are some of the categories where big points are scored, and the best part is you are invited to pig out on all the grilled tastiness you can get your hands on! But food isn’t the only thing these teams win awards for. Trophies are also handed out for the best-decorated booth and even best t-shirts—making this as much a colorful spectacle as a food-fest! Donning quirky names such as Suspicious Rinds and The Hogfather, teams bring a level of entertainment to the grilling scene that you don’t see everyday.

While grilling is the main theme of this Tennessee event, the contest wouldn’t be complete without some must-see moments. A crowd favorite is the Ms. Piggie Idol competition, where grown men sport tutus and snouts while performing songs with pig-related lyrics. You can also expect to see Elvis impersonators strutting their stuff among the cooking while trying not to get any barbecue sauce on their blue suede shoes. Finally after you’ve had your fill of all the bulging hot-pork sandwiches you can eat, stay late each night to kick up your heels to live country music on the big stage.

And don’t forget this insider tip from Frommer’s 300 Unmissable Events & Festivals Around the World, on Thursday and Friday you can take a 30-minute guided tour with The Cooker’s Caravan to hear participating teams divulge their barbecue skills. So come hungry, wear a loose t-shirt to accommodate a full belly, and feast on award-winning giant ribs and one-of-a-kind entertainment that your whole family is sure to enjoy in Memphis!

This entry was posted on Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at 2:19 pm and is filed under United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.