Friday, June 15th: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday, June 16th: 11:00 AM – 6-7:00 PM (depends of crowds) ** For specific event details, visit our Home Page, click on “The Event”, then click on “Schedule of Events” (updated periodically) On the grounds of the historic Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (TALA) in downtown Weston, WV Approx. 5 minutes West of Interstate 79 via Route 33 West ~ approx. 2 hours South of Pittsburgh, PA and 2 hours North of Charleston, WV NO, the event is FREE and open to the public – bring the whole family for a fun day of great food, WV crafters & vendors, and other activities. Some specialty games and contests may require an entry / participation fee as well as food and beverages, but there is no admission fee to come and enjoy the day. This is a “downtown family event” with all activities on the grounds of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (TALA) with plenty of parking on and adjacent to the event site. On-site and nearby parking is free. Plans are in process to provide complimentary shuttle service from nearby parking areas to the event site. Details will be posted as this is finalized. Here’s a chance to see some of the Country’s best BBQ Pitmasters as they compete for cash and those all-important bragging rights to be the ‘best of the best’. Visit their cooking rigs, interact with the Pitmasters, enjoy an informational presentation by some of the Pitmasters discussing “how to’s” of competition BBQ. In addition, there will be several exhibitors with unique, hand-crafted items (nothing mass produced), as well as other food vendors, and various displays and exhibits, inflatable games for the kids, live entertainment throughout the event, a “WV Craft Beer Garden” for the adults, “Pig Mania” (uniquely decorated cement pigs judged ‘free’ by all attendees), a hilarious new “Outhouse Classic Race”, and much more. Check out the full schedule of events at the Event tab (to be updated in spring of 2018 as finalized) We hope the entire community and businesses will benefit directly or indirectly from the event. The 2017 BBQ Bash also partnered with the WV Alzheimer’s Association to help promote awareness of their services to both victims and caregivers, and hopefully raise some funds for that organization. We also partnered with Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program as our charity for the 2015 and 2016 events. OF COURSE … you can’t have a BBQ event without great BBQ to eat. Although most professional BBQ teams prepare meat only for the competition, there are several competitors who will be selling BBQ as well other BBQ / food vendors. Our 2017 event featured other vendors offering: YES….as long as your pet is leashed for everyone’s safety and comfort! Of course, we expect pet owners to “clean up” after them for everyone’s comfort. Check the Accommodations tab on our Home Page for more information on hotels offering special BBQ rates as well as area campgroups for convenient RV parking. ABSOLUTELY… There are lots of kid-friendly activities in our “Piglet Zone” both days with unique inflatable games, contests, and other activities. There are 2 BBQ challenges to compete in – open to anyone * For rules, regulations, and application forms for either competition, go to the BBQ Teams tab YES… Teams will set up their cook sites Thursday evening and Friday morning to prepare for the required KCBS meat inspections before beginning the cook process. A cook’s meeting (not open to the public) is held Friday evening, and meat prep and cooking will begin soon after that with many cooking throughout the night to prepare for the first turn-in (chicken) at noon on Saturday. Most teams enjoy interacting with the public, but remember this is VERY serious for them, esp. when they are finishing their meats for presentation to the judges and are under a strict timeline. *** Please avoid disturbing cook teams during their final preparations for judging from approx. 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. After the last turn-in (approx. 2:00 – 2:30 PM), most teams are cleaning up, it’s a great time to visit with and interact with these pro teams! Our 2017 event included BBQ teams and certified KCBS judges from 18 states, and we expect even more this year as teams compete for $10,000 cash, trophies, KCBS points and “bragging rights” during the BBQ season. Many competitive BBQ teams travel all across the country nearly every weekend to compete. They really are “crazy about BBQ”! KCBS teams cook the 4 required meats (chicken, ribs, pork, and beef brisket) and submit a minimum of 6 portions of each to the Judging area at separate times. All judges for this event are certified, having completed a KCBS Judges Class, and will judge each meat for appearance, texture, and taste. Using a strict “double blind” system, judges will not judge the same cook’s meats to provide the strictest level of fairness. For more details, click on the following on our website: BBQ Teams, then KCBS Teams, then KCBS Rules & Regulations. By Proclamation of the Governor of West Virginia, the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash again serves as the WV State BBQ Championship — as the only KCBS sanctioned BBQ event in the State. Because of this designation, the overall winner of this event, the WV Grand Champion, also represents West Virginia at the prestigious Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational BBQ event and the American Royal BBQ Championship. Only one team per state is invited making this a premiere event for serious BBQ competitors. We are proud that our 2017 WV Grand Champion, Rocky Top Barbeque with Walt Moulton as Pitmaster from Jonesboro, TN, also WON the 2017 Jack Daniels BBQ Tournament in Oct., 2017 – representing West Virginia! As the largest BBQ sanctioning organization in the US, KCBS sanctions over 400 events per year in the US and several foreign countries. Events, teams, and judges are held to high standards of competition, and KCBS sanctioning is required for an event’s Grand Champion to be eligible to participate in the Jack Daniels Invitational BBQ event and the American Royal Invitational BBQ event.When is the event?
2018 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash / WV State BBQ Championship
June 15 – 16, 2018Where is the event?
~ approx. 4-5 hours from Columbus, OH, Charlotte, NC, Lexington/Louisville, KY, and Washington, DCIs there an admission fee to the event?
Where should I park to access the activities?
What should I expect at this event?
Who will benefit from the event?
Will I be able to buy BBQ at the event?
Homemade Ice Cream
Kettle Corn
Zul’s Frozen Beverages
Deep-Fried Calzones
Fresh Pork Rinds
Hot Dogs & Fries
and others …. something for everyone!
Can I bring my pet?
Where can we stay?
Are there activities for children?
BBQ Competitions – Who can Enter?
Can I watch the teams cook?
Where do these BBQ cook teams come from?
How does the judging work?
What’s the big deal about being the WV State BBQ Championship?
Why is it important to be sanctioned by KCBS (Kansas City BBQ Society)?
