Posted on by Marcia

Heritage Days BBQ Showdown – Belvidere, IL June June 22 – 24

The 2018 Heritage Days BBQ Showdown 2-day competition brought out the best in professional BBQ! On Day 1 fifty-one Competition BBQ Teams convened upon the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere, Il, a superb venue for a BBQ comp! At least six of those teams are the top professional teams in the US, vying for KCBS Team of the Year.  To keep up with KCBS Team of the Year standings click here.

A Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament participant.

Event organizers Danny & Chris along with their team held a terrific event that was welcoming and supportive of the needs of professional BBQ’rs and judges alike! And where else can one go to a BBQ competition and witness authentic Celtic games with The Scottish Heavy Olympics Tournament?! It was complete with kilts, sheaf tossing (using a pitchfork!), caber toss (log flipping), hammer throw and more. You can learn more about the sport in this article. For us regular folks who are not into heavy duty weight training, there was a Bags Tournament.

 

Day 1

After the threat of rain subsided on Saturday, the stars came out, that’s BBQ stars, with Shake ‘N Bake taking Grand Champion scoring 693.1, followed by Rod Gray’s Pellet Envy for Reserve Champion with a 692.0.  Dirt Road was third overall for the second week in a row!

Pellet Envy Reserve Champion, Day 1.
Shake N’ Bake, Grand Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2

Hats off to the forty-four BBQ teams competing on Sunday, Day 2.  As a pro BBQ cook I’ve never done a double competition, nor have I as a judge. As a judge it was challenging so I can only imagine what it was like for the cook teams! That said experienced pros know how to compete as evidenced by Gettin’ Basted taking home the Grand Champion award with a 691.9 score followed by Reserve Champion ONE2BBQ with a 688.5.  Midnight Burn, all the way from North Carolina, was third overall.

Gettin’ Basted, Grand Champion, Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.
One2BBQ, Reserve Champion Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

The close bond that Competition BBQ teams share was evident at this event. Even though teams are there to compete, they are very supportive of one another. Friday night’s mood was fun and lively with teams greeting each other, enjoying libations and music together. During Saturday’s competition, it was all business as they cooked, but words of ‘good luck’ to each other and pats on the back were everywhere. The Awards Presentations was upbeat with big rounds of applause, hoots, and hollers for each team that got a call (placed in the top ten of each category). Saturday night it was time to relax and share a meal with each other, with teams contributing to the potluck table. Now that’s what makes bbq competition fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often times teams set up next to each other, it’s more fun that way! Smoke Freaks and Stress Relief BBQ teams.

 

 

8 Replies to “Heritage Days BBQ Showdown – Belvidere, IL June June 22 – 24”

  1. Great write up of the Heritage Days competition! You really captured the heart and soul of what we love about competition BBQ — the camaraderie with our fellow teams and the thrill of cook day. Loved the photos!! Hope to meet you guys on the BBQ trail one of these days!

    1. Thank you! Heritage Days was a great competition and we are glad we were there to witness the camaraderie. We’ll be looking for you at future competitions. A few upcoming events we’ll be at are Ribberfest, Madison, IN, Apple Fest, Mears, MI, Rumble on the River, Grand Haven, MI and Big Buffalo Crossing, Munfordville, KY.

  2. Thanks for the great pics!!
    Fergolicious, Smoke Freaks and Rod Gray all follow me on Twitter.
    Got to meet Richard and Jeremy from Fergolicious at Cinci last year and traded a bottle of bourbon for their leftovers. Great guys!!

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