Get your grills, tongs and recipes ready for the eighth annual Western Illinois University Family Day BBQ Competition, 'Grill me Baby One More Time' Saturday, Sept. 19 from 2-5 p.m. in Q-Lot as part of WIU's Family Day event.
BBQ Competition
Registration remains open for amateur and experienced 'pitmasters' to take part in the 2026 BBQ competition, sponsored by the WIU School of Agriculture and Office of Student Engagement (OSE).
To participate, teams/ individuals must pay a $50 entry fee ($100 after Aug. 23; student teams can enter at no cost) and bring their own smokers (wood, charcoal or electric) and tents. The University will provide tables, table service for the public tasting portion of the event and electricity. Thanks to sponsors, brisket and ribs are provided to each team to prepare as they wish for the tasting event and judging. Teams can register at tinyurl. com/wiubbqteam Teams will also make a third dish of their choosing (using their own food), cooked on their smoker, for the People's Choice award. Past People's Choice dishes have included smoked mac and cheese; chicken wings; au gratin potatoes; pulled pork tacos, pork belly pizza, and fireball apple crisp. The BBQ portion of the contest (smoked meats) are evaluated anonymously by judges off sight, while participants tasting the extra goodies vote for the People's Choice winner.
Last year's event featured 175 racks of ribs and 65 full briskets, totaling 1,200 pounds of meat, and more than 400 tasting tickets sold. Food is served while supplies last. The 2026 event begins at 2 p.m. in Q-Lot. Pitmasters will set up in Q-Lot Friday, Sept. 18 from 1-5 p.m. and tend to their masterpieces throughout the night.
To date, 10 teams have registered, with room for more. More than $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, sponsored by Nature's Grace. A top prize of $1,500 will be awarded to first place overall, with cash awards going to second place overall, People's Choice, first place ribs, first place brisket and first place student team.
Eat Them Up, YUM!
Tasting tickets (and Family Day t-shirts) are now available for purchase at wiu.edu/familyday. Three-, four- and five-person family bundles, which include t-shirts, football tickets and BBQ tasting tickets are also available. Each tasting ticket can be used for one of the following: one rib, one serving of brisket or one people's choice item for a BBQ team. In addition to lip-smacking barbecue, the event will feature live music by Riplock, activities for the entire family, a bags tournament and the battle for the best BBQ, followed by the Fighting Leathernecks football game at 6 p.m.
Plus, the ever-popular Kona shaved ice truck, inflatables, a photobooth, free tote bags by WIU's art department and a glitter tattoo artist will be on hand (all provided to participants at no cost), along with boutiques and vendors on site with a variety of items for purchase.
Preorder for BBQ and football tickets and t-shirts closes Sept. 17 at noon.
