Festivals
SmokeSlam: The Ultimate BBQ Festival Unveils More Than Just BBQ; A Three-Day Family-Friendly Extravaganza!
Discover the ultimate BBQ festival experience at SmokeSlam in Memphis, featuring mouthwatering bites, live music, family-friendly activities, and more!
SmokeSlam Unveils More Than Just BBQ; A Three-Day Festival For BBQ Fans And The Whole Family
Memphis, Tennessee – SmokeSlam, the ultimate BBQ festival, is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for BBQ enthusiasts, families, foodies, and tourists alike. In addition to showcasing the world’s richest prize in BBQ, SmokeSlam has unveiled an exciting lineup of activities and partnerships that make it more than just a BBQ competition.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Live Fire Extravaganza, which will take place daily. Renowned pitmasters such as Al Frugoni, Chris Stafford (LoneMountainBBQ), Misty Banchero (SeattleButchersWife), and Toni Ramirez (TFTI) will be cooking up endless mouthwatering bites for guests to enjoy. From sliders and wings to street tacos and shrimp and grits, there will be something to satisfy every palate. And for those looking for vegetarian options, BBQ’d veggies and fruits will also be available.
But SmokeSlam is not just about BBQ. The festival has partnered with the non-profit organization Project Green Fork to provide food to underprivileged communities across Memphis. By retrieving surplus food from the festival and distributing it to community stakeholders, SmokeSlam is making a positive impact on the local community.
To cater to families, SmokeSlam has introduced stroller- and diaper bag-friendly rules. This means that parents can bring their little ones to enjoy the festival without any hassle. Kids will also have the opportunity to be inspired by young pitmasters competing in Melissa Cookston’s World Junior Barbecue League.
For those looking for something other than BBQ, SmokeSlam has added a plethora of activities to keep guests entertained. 901 Pickleball, sponsored by Wickles Pickles, will be providing four full-size pickleball courts for anyone who wants to give the sport a try. There will also be music, coaches, and demo gear available for those new to the game.
Live music will also be a major highlight of the festival, with performances by popular artists such as Tone Loc, WAR, and The Bar-Kays. And to add to the festive atmosphere, there will be a fireworks display every night.
Food vendors will be aplenty at SmokeSlam, with local favorites such as Mempops, Pronto Pups, Sawce Pizza, and Tica’s Burger Joint serving up delicious treats. The Memphis Market, curated by Memphis Flavor, will also be selling the city’s finest rubs and sauces, providing guests with the opportunity to take home a taste of Memphis.
In addition to the exciting lineup of events and activities, SmokeSlam boasts the largest cash prize purse in history, now at $275,000. Winners will also receive one-of-a-kind trophies designed and created by the famed Memphis Metal Museum.
SmokeSlam has received support from various sponsors, including Bud Light, B&B Charcoal, Duraflame, Cowboy Charcoal, White Claw, and Coca-Cola. The festival is set to take place at Tom Lee Park, with doors opening at 2 PM each day and the park closing at midnight.
Thursday:
2 PM – 8 PM – B&B Charcoal Live Fire Extravaganza presented by NBBQA
2:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Christy Vanovers @girlscangril
3:00 PM – WFC Bacon Judging Starts
3:30 PM – Cooking Demo with John Lindsey @allquedupbbq
4:00 PM – WFC Wings Judging Starts
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Meet and Greets with Head Pitmasters Al Frugoni and Derek Wolf (OvertheFireCooking) (VIP ONLY)
4:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Erica Roby @bluesmokeblair
5:00 PM – WFC Dessert Judging Starts
5:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Ray Sheehan @chef.raysheehan
5:45 PM – 6:45 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: Noisy Cats Are We
6:00 PM – 7:00 – Meet and Greets with Myron Mixon (5x World Champion), Heath Riles (75x BBQ Grand Champion), and Carey Bringle (PegLegPorker) (VIP ONLY)
6:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Robert Perkins/Pancho and Lefty
7:15 PM -8:15 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: Mustache The Band
7:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Mike Starr @blazingstarbbq
8:45 PM – 10:15 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: Mix Tape Tour featuring Tone Loc, Rob Base, Young MC, DJ M Walk
Friday
2 PM – 8 PM – B&B Charcoal Live Fire Extravaganza presented by NBBQA
2:30 PM – Cooking Demo with John Lindsey @allquedupbbq
2:30 PM – WFC Duck Judging Starts
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Meet and Greets with Logan Sandoval (ZefBBQ) and Netflix BBQ Showdown Champion Thyron Mathews (VIP only)
3:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Ray Sheehan @chef.raysheehan
4:00 PM – WFC Seafood Judging Starts
4:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Erica Roby @bluesmokeblair
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Live Music at the White Claw Stage: Hope Clayburn & Soul Scrimmage
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM – Meet and Greets with Melissa Cookston (7xWorld BBQ Champion), Erica Roby (Blue Smoke Blair), and TV personality Gina Neely
5:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Kunchi @cookinwidkunchi
6 PM – 7:15 PM WFC Awards Ceremony hosted by Erica Roby of Blue Smoke Blaire and Gina Neely (Host of Bluff City Life)
6:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Thyron Mathews @thyronmathew
7:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Mike Starr @blazingstarbbq
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: The Bar-Kays
9 PM – 10:15 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: War
Saturday
2:00 – MBN Finals Judging Begins
2 PM – 8 PM – B&B Charcoal Live Fire Extravaganza presented by NBBQA
2:30 PM – Cooking Demo with John Lindsey @allquedupbbq
3:00 PM – WJBL Chicken Turn in
3:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Christy Vanovers @girlscangrill
3:30 PM – WJBL Ribs Turn in
4:00 PM – WJBL Pork Turn In
4:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Erica Roby @bluesmokeblair
4:30 PM – WJBL Brisket Turn In
5:15 PM – 7:15 PM World Junior Barbecue League (WJBL) Awards followed by Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) Awards hosted by Thyron & Logan from Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown
5:30 PM – Cooking Demo with Ray Sheehan @chef.raysheehan
7:15 PM – 8:15 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: SmokeSlam Players
8:45 PM – 10:15 PM – Live Music at the White Claw Stage: St Paul and the Broken Bones
**Saturday Meet and Greets for VIP to be announced.
Tickets for SmokeSlam are available for purchase online or at the gate. General admission tickets are priced at $24.99 for a single day and $65 for all three days. VIP tickets, which include special guest appearances, book signings, and more, are priced at $240 per day or $599 for the entire three-day festival.
As SmokeSlam promises to be an unforgettable experience for BBQ enthusiasts and families alike, it is an event not to be missed. Whether you’re a fan of mouthwatering BBQ, live music, or exciting activities, SmokeSlam has something for everyone. So mark your calendars and get ready to indulge in the ultimate BBQ festival experience.
About SmokeSlam
SmokeSlam is an upcoming BBQ festival organized by Mempho Presents, a group deeply rooted in Memphis, music, and barbecue. The inaugural SmokeSlam competition will take place from May 16 to 18, 2024, at Tom Lee Park in Memphis, TN. With a prize purse of $275,000, SmokeSlam boasts the largest pork BBQ competition prize in history. The Memphis BBQ Network (MBN) has partnered with SmokeSlam to oversee the pork championship judging. This MBN-sanctioned event allows teams to compete in all three main categories, with category winners having the opportunity to earn a ‘Golden Ticket’ to participate in the World Food Championships (WFC) in the autumn. The WFC will also be sanctioning the ancillary competitions held on Thursday and Friday. For additional details, please visit www.SmokeSlam.com.
About Mempho Presents
Mempho Presents is a branch of Forward Momentum that specializes in organizing exceptional live events and creating memorable experiences for fans. Their focus is on producing shows and events throughout the year, primarily in Memphis, TN, and the surrounding Mid-South area. For additional details, please visit https://memphopresents.com/.
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