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Wendy K. Leigh, Leaf Group
Beale Street is the spot for blues and barbecue. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images News/Getty Images )
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Few cities in the United States affiliate themselves more closely with the art of barbecue than Memphis. This metropolis in southwestern Tennessee is well known as the home of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion, as well as blues music on Beale Street and the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. Despite the sometimes turbulent history associated with Memphis, there is at least one annual event that brings everyone together in a spirit of friendly competition: the barbecue cooking contest at the Memphis in May International Festival.
Festival Details
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a central part of the annual Memphis in May International Festival (memphisinmay.org), pulling in thousands of hungry "Q lovers" from across the South. Other popular events taking place during the festival include the Beale Street Music Festival and the Sunset Symphony. The barbecue cooking contest takes place at Tom Lee Park downtown, with teams competing for cash prizes, trophies and the honor that comes with being crowned a winner in this region that prizes barbecue as a true symbol of cultural authenticity.
In addition to crowning the best barbecue, the Ms. Piggie Idol competition adds a whimsical flair, with participants dressing in hoofs, snouts and creative swine regalia while crooning pork-infused lyrics on stage. The cooking contest runs for three days in mid-May, with live country, R&B and blues music, as well as shows such as the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition. In the past, entertainment has included groups such as Cowboy Mouth and the Sun Studio All Stars whose performances include music from the famous recording studio in Memphis which launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Barbecue Contest
Though the barbecue cooking competition at Memphis in May is technically open to anyone, the guidelines are stringent, intended to keep the quality high and the competition fierce. Teams who make the cut concentrate on winning the competition and do not serve to the public directly, though there are plenty of barbecue vendors on-site who are ready and willing to serve it up hot, sweet, spicy and thick. A People's Choice tent provides the chance for everyone to have their say in the actual competition. A free Cooker's Caravan tour every 30 minutes on Thursday and Friday gives a glimpse into the competitor stands, grills and smokers. Winners are announced on Saturday, the third and final day of the festival.
Tom Lee Park is situated in downtown Memphis on the banks of the Mississippi River. In addition to being the site of the barbecue cooking contest, the park also hosts the Beale Street Music Festival, which is part of the Memphis in May festival taking place earlier in the month. Cab stands are located at either end of the park, providing transportation for festival attendees. The park is within walking distance to Beale Street itself, infamous for lively blues music venues, including the original BB King's Blues Club (bbkingclubs.com). Just a few blocks from the festival, you can pop into the original Peabody Hotel (peabodymemphis.com) for a peek at the world-renowned Peabody Ducks parading through the grand lobby and around the fountain twice a day.
Memphis in May International Festival: World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
Sun Studio: Home Page
The Peabody Memphis: Home Page
Nile Guide: Memphis Travel Guide
Wendy K. Leigh is a travel writer and photojournalist from Seattle. She is the Editor of Islands America, a travel website for visiting islands within the United States. She also writes about home design, food and historical architecture. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington.
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