BBQ Festivals in Florida?

Can any of you help me find some decent BBQ Festivals or Competitions (open to the puplic) in FLORIDA? I would love to plan a few trips in the coming year if I knew of any events down here. Thanks all!

The most complete list of events can be found here....
http://www.barbecuenews.com/calendar/index.asp

You will have to hunt for the Florida ones. There's also a Florida organization, find it here....
http://www.flbbq.org/

Out team just competed in a nice one this past weekend in Grant, FL. This site is also used for a massive seafood festival in the February timeframe each year.

Other good contests are:

1. Lakeland/last weekend of January.
2. Plant City/third weekend of November.
3. A new contest in Key Largo/first weekend of November
4. Another new contest starting next April in Viera/first weekend in April.

These are just a few but ones that I like or think will be good ones in regards to the new ones.

One other place with BBQ contest listings is http://www.kcbs.us

If you come by to any, email me first and find out if our team will be competing there so we can extend an invitation to our site.

John

kozel - Thanks for the websites. I will defintiely check them out.

John - Please let me know what your website is so that we can track and maybe follow you guys around sometime. Also, I would be hapy to put in on our website. Although it is mainly a racing website, we do have a decent "Roadfood" section and love to explore new BBQ joints and events around the US. Now that we are back home in Florida for a while, it will be great to check out the events you listed and hopefully get to meet you someday? Thanks again!!

Our Website: http://www.BluemaxxRacing.com

If you are looking for a fun BBQ festival open to the public here in Florida, Pig Jam is it!

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Saturday, November 19 Plant City Pig Jam, which will be held at the Randy Larson Softball Four-Plex. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the third annual event, contestants will compete for cash and prizes in professional, amateur and kids’ barbecue competitions.

Pig Jam guests will be able to sample some of the country’s best barbecue ribs, pork, beef brisket and chicken. Plus, there will be live entertainment, a rock-climbing wall, moon walks and other activities, and sno-cones, cookies and other refreshments will be available. Admission is free; parking is $3 per vehicle. For more information, contact the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at 813-754-3707, or log on to www.plantcity.org.

The 18th Annual "Ham Jam" will be held at the Reynold's Yacht Center in Green Cove Springs November 3 - 6.

The Pig Jam in Plant City is the best. They have great barbecue and the people are so nice and friendly. Plant City is a beautiful place. It's held at the softball complex out there off of Park Road, and it draws a nice crowd, not rowdy. It's a nice event for the family, because there's music and things for the kids to do... AND beer! This is definitely a good BBQ contest to go to. It's a KCBS-sanctioned one, so it's got some great cooks, and they're fun too.

quote:

Originally posted by Bluemaxx

Can any of you help me find some decent BBQ Festivals or Competitions (open to the puplic) in FLORIDA? I would love to plan a few trips in the coming year if I knew of any events down here. Thanks all!

Plant City Pig Jam on November 19. Plant City is between Tampa and Lakeland. This is a great event for the whole family -- much better than decent!

And if you come out to the Pig Jam, stop by the site for FireHouseBBQ and say hi. My teammates and I will be there cooking again this year. It was the first contest that the four of us cooked together at last year and we were very fortunate to take Reserve Grand Champion which is second place in overall points. While we won't be vending to the public, we just might have a few samples for friends of the team. Hope to see you all there.

John

I'll be in central, FL this weekend. Anybody know of anything in that neck of the woods?

Not this weekend. There will be a contest in Minneola two weeks from Sat. That is the next one that I know of.

John

Hey Gregg! Where in Central FL will you be? Sebring again?? Either way, let me know and I will give you my favorites. BTW, I still owe you BIGTIME for those Sebring tickets! I haven't forgetten and still can't believe your kindness!