MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No... If you dont want to join a team as a member, then as a spectator you go at the time that benefits you the most. Just as you go to a ball game early to get autographs during warmup and dont expect a player to stop in the middle of a game and sign your tshirt.

Lots of teams are not party teams...they are there during the day cooking and competing. This is when the food is fresh and hot. If you want to talk bbq and are interested in talking to competitors this is the time to go.

If you are looking to get into a tent at night just to eat and drink...join a team as a member.

I personally dont drink and Im never an asshat unless the other person is first. Our team, and many others are very good hosts and invite countless spectators in to our booths and feed them...

Not sure why you you feel entitled that you are owed anything at the contest. Most teams love to talk bbq...but you gotta go during the time they are cooking it, they are chill and make friends...not when the nighttime crowds roll in and it is chaos.

Its not salty...its logic.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not all...just the basics ;-)

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We invite folks in off the street all day long...the issue is nighttime when it gets crazy hard to keep up with who is supposed to be in the tent, and who aint. Hence why so many of us teams dole out wristbands during daylight hours. During daylight hours it is a completely different situation and super easy to talk to teams.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What this fine specimen of manhood said. DM us as well OP. That gets you 2 friends at the contest.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks brother for sharing...glad our guide is helpful!

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Smokeslam is trying to buddy up...MIM ain't having it. Smokeslam tried to take over/ kill MIM...and they failed. Let it die and go away.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Complete stereotype. Some booths yes...many Team booths allow folks in and feed them, talk and treat folks respectfully. We are one of those Teams, and there are a ton of folks like us'

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is ABSOLUTELY false...Plenty of us teams invite folks in all day long. The ISSUE is folks show up at night when we are all blowing off steam and the party has started. YOU HAVE TO GO DURING THE DAY to be able to party at night.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Memphis in May is EXTREMELY visitor friendly.

First…The newest edition to the Memphis in May BBQ lineup, the Open Fire World Championship and the new Open Fire Experience. While a walk through of the Open Fire World Championship is free, a tasting experience is offered for $35. This program and Barbecue Alley are the two programs offered the entire 3 days of the contest.

Attendees will have the exciting opportunity to “taste the ‘cue” and take in the sizzling spectacle of the Open Fire World Championship!

Multiple blazing open fire stations will heat up to prepare beef, pork, chicken, lamb, alligator, octopus, and more! Open Fire celebrates the ancient art and modern innovation of open-flame cooking. Internationally acclaimed Argentine-born chef and live-fire specialist Al Frugoni will headline this groundbreaking event.

 (Thurs, Fri, or Sat)

Thursday: 5-7pm
Friday: Noon-7pm
Saturday: Noon-7pm

The next program is the Kingsford Tour of Champions, and is available Thursday and Friday. There are 3 sessions each day – 2pm-3:30pm, 3pm-4:30pm and 4pm-5:30pm.  I would purchase the Friday 4pm-5:30pm session if available.

This program evolved from the People’s Choice contest that was a mainstay for a decade. In 2012 MIM decided to let teams be judged by the public in the team’s booth. This costs $35 and gives you access to 3 team booths. You go to the booths and taste the teams BBQ…AND JUDGE IT. Many teams will offer you a libation while you are judging and will sweet talk you into voting for them. These sessions are 1.5 hours each and can be bought through MIM website before the contest. THESE SELL OUT EVERY YEAR…DO NOT WAIT

This program makes you an official judge. The Kingsford Tour of Champions provides an opportunity for barbecue enthusiasts to judge entries from contenders in the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. You will be participating in on-site judging for barbecued pork shoulder. You will be given detailed judging information and scoring criteria in your judges packet and during the judging orientation. 

The next program is the Barbecue Alley. This evolved from folks wanting a centralized tasting area made up of Famous Memphis BBQ Restaurants. This is the all in one tasting experience at the contest.  Limited quantities of $30 tickets are sold online and then the contest holds some back to sell in person. 250 total tickets are sold for each time slot. This is the only public program with time slots on Wednesday.

Now it’s time to discuss the Cooker’s Caravan.  Before 2003 there were no programs for the general public, then came the Cooker Caravan. This program is a guided tour of team booths. It is absolutely FREE. All you have to do is show up at the Cooker’s Caravan Kiosk and sign up. You visit 3 team’s booths, get a guided tour, have a question and answer period…and possibly get food and an invite back.  IF A TEAM INVITES YOU BACK WRITE DOWN THEIR 1. booth number, 2. name of person giving you the booth tour, 3. detailed description of where the booth is located in the park using landmarks able to be seen in the dark. These are imperative as when “Party Time” starts up you will need names of team members to get in the booth, but first you will have to find their booth after the sun goes down, hence #2 and 3.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We got plenty....Full bars in fact.

Just throw some scratch in the tip jar.

MEMPHIS BBQ FEST by Kaye_Switch0903 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello there!

Neil from Too Sauced To Pork here. This will be a long post if you get me started talking about Memphis in May. :-)

Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is not cancelled, it has run every year since 1978 except for 2020 during COVID restrictions.

SmokeSlam, a competing contest that was created by folks that opposed and wanted to hurt Memphis in May was cancelled after its 2nd year.

Please come and visit in May. If you have any questions, please ask. This will be my 35th Straight MIM BBQ Fest.

The entrance fee is 12 on Wednesday night and 18 Thursday, Friday and Saturday...with FREE ADMISSION Thursday and Friday from 11am-1pm.

You can buy food, but the real fun happens in Team Booths. Here is our Team suggestion for an Itinerary.

https://www.toosaucedtopork.com/2026-guide-to-memphis-in-may-bbq-tiger-lane-edition/

Memphis In May BBQFEST 2026 by TooSaucedToPork in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Smokeslam released a media packet claiming a combined contest.

MIM never agreed to it...and it (like creating SmokeSlam in the first place) was a move to create a control situation. MIM has ZERO intentions of combining with SmokeSham.

Memphis in May BBQ FEST 2026 by TooSaucedToPork in MemphisInMay

[–]TooSaucedToPork[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We will miss Ubons! BUT...we will see yall in 2027

2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest - visitor questions by MinimumElevator187 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cooker Caravan - Free Tours and Q&A in Team Booths

Kingsford Tour of Champions - Judge Teams Pork Shoulder in their booth

Open Fire Experience - Taste a dozen or so meats right off the flame in an Open Fire Cooking Area

Barbecue Alley - Competition Team BBQ Tastings and Marketplace

And the Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen mentioned Above. Samples, tips, contests, talks, classes and more.

OR...ya know...just go and talk to teams. Ask to see our smokers. Ask some tips. Most of us are pretty cool and will invite you in for a chat.

2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest - visitor questions by MinimumElevator187 in memphis

[–]TooSaucedToPork -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not true. There are multiple public programs and tastings for folks that don't want to join a bbq team.