Team Information

We are inviting up to 30 BBQ teams to this event. 25 teams are required to make this a qualifying event for "The Jack Daniels Invitational" and the "American Royal". Please plan on cooking all four meat categories, even if you do not think you may have a strong finish in one or more of the categories. In order to remain a qualifier, 25 teams must turn in all 4 meat categories on time.  

$195 includes your 20' x 20' team space, turn in containers, and up to 20 amps of power. If you need more power, you must provide your own "quiet" generator. Many teams bring their own, just to be safe. Teams will be given a swag bag and a container to collect their People's choice votes. You are encouraged to decorate your space with lights, banners, etc. Have fun but keep it appropriate. (nothing obscene, political, or racially charged). The PNWBA will open registration sometime in May and you can officially register and pay at that time. 

The Pacific Northwest BBQ Association website has a ton of resources. Here is a direct link to their rules page.  

We recommend that teams set-up Friday evening. The competition area at Haydu Park in Kalama will be a tight fit, so the more teams we can get set-up in advance, the better. You can stay overnight in your space if you want. There will be security patrols throughout the night. The park closes at 10:00 pm and there is a security gate. The event organizer and crew will be staying overnight as well, so your set-up will be very secure. If you need to get into the park after the gate has closed, there will be a sign posted with a phone number to call for assistance.

If you are planning to set-up on Saturday morning, you may enter the park as early as 6:00 am on Saturday June 29. Once you are set-up in your 20' x 20' space, you will park your vehicle across the street from Haydu Park in a designated county rock pit. There will be signs. All vehicles must be out of the competition area by 9:00 am to ensure safety of guests who will be arriving at 10:00 am. 

Security patrols will monitor the park overnight. You are welcome to sleep overnight in your space.

Samples should consist of 2 oz or 4 oz samples.

Selling full plates is discouraged. We want visitors to drop tokens with several different teams and be able to vote on “People’s Choice”.

DO NOT ACCEPT CASH 

Tokens are being sold for $3 each.

2 oz samples = 1 token

4 oz samples = 2 tokens

1 Rib = 2 Tokens

1 Chicken Leg or Thigh = 2 Tokens

This year the event will keep 25% of vending sales in order to fund future competitions. Your check will be mailed out on Tuesday, July 2nd. 

Garbage must be taken to the 20 yard waste bin in the gravel pit. Do not fill the small garbage cans around the arena. Those are for patrons. Restrooms, hot ash disposal, grey water disposal, and grease disposal are available on site. Please locate the site nearest your space. Any teams disposing of waste in undesignated areas will not be invited to compete next year and may be disqualified from the competition.

9:00 am - All team vehicles must be out of the arena - NO EXCEPTIONS

Sometime Before 11:00 am - Health Dept. Inspection for teams vending/sampling

12:00 pm - Cook's Meeting - Mandatory for at least one cook from each team. 

3:00 pm - "ANYTHING BURGER" - Prize to be announced

If you are planning to vend (sell samples) you must be set-up and ready for patrons by 11:00 am and remain open until 7:00 pm on Saturday, and 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on Sunday. If you choose to vend, you must vend both days. Additionally, you must have at least one person designated to sell samples at all times. Patrons will be given 3 tickets per day that will be used as votes for their favorite teams. At the award ceremony on Sunday, we will announce the People's Choice winner.

Teams who are vending must be set-up and ready for patrons by 11:00 am and remain open until 4:00 pm. This day is tricky for vending, since you will also be busy with competition turn-in times. This is why you must have a designated person available to sell samples while your team is frantically getting ready for each turn-in time. Here is a typical schedule for Sunday. It may change slightly:

• 10:00am - Judges Meeting
• 10:30am - "Jack Shot" if possible. This is a strong tradition in the BBQ world with usually a quick "toast" to a great day and good luck to all. We encourage event coordinators, judges and all teams to be included if they wish.
• 11:00 am - Pork Turn-in (this is done from 10:55 to 11:05, 5 mins before and after)
• 12:00 pm - Brisket Turn-in
• 1:00 pm - Chicken Turn-in
• 2:00 pm - Ribs Turn-in
• 5:00 pm - Award Ceremony - On the stage

PNWBA BBQ Prize Pool: $10,000

Grand Champion - $1,190

Reserve Grand Champion - $910

Payout in Each Category:

1st - $250

2nd - $225

3rd - $200

4th - $175

5th - $150

6th - $100

7th - $75

8th - $50

Only team members may sleep in your team space. Please encourage out of town friends and family to reserve a space at Camp Kalama (.5 miles away) or OYO Hotel (1 mile away), one55elm (1.5 miles away), Kalama Harbor Lodge (2 miles away), or one of several nearby Airbnb or VRBO locations.