2027 BBQ COMPETITION
Bring Your Best to Derby.
Smoke on the Plains returns June 11–12, 2027, bringing competition barbecue teams to High Park for two days of smoke, skill and serious bragging rights. Whether you’re a seasoned KCBS competitor or an ambitious backyard team, come test your craft, connect with the barbecue community and compete on one of Derby’s biggest stages.
Mark the dates and start getting your team ready.
The KCBS Master Series BBQ Competition
Bring your best chicken, ribs, pork and brisket to Derby and compete alongside experienced barbecue teams from across the region. The Master Series follows KCBS rules and judging procedures, with teams competing in all four meat categories for a chance to earn Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors.
Team Setup & Arrival
Arrival and Parking
- Each team may bring one vehicle into the competition area. All additional vehicles must be parked in the designated contestant parking area.
- Competition spaces will be assigned by Smoke on the Plains staff at High Park.
- Derby Public Works staff will begin placing teams at 8 a.m. Friday, June 11. Teams will be positioned in a predetermined order to streamline electrical hookups.
- Spaces may not be saved or selected in advance.
- Thursday arrival may be arranged ahead of time; however, electrical service will not be available until Friday.
Site Services
- Each space includes access to 120V, 30-amp electrical service. Teams must provide their own extension cords.
- Free ice will be available near the competition area.
- Designated disposal areas will be provided for trash and cooled ashes.
Teardown and Departure
Teams planning to leave immediately after the awards ceremony should disconnect all power and water connections before attending the ceremony.
Staff will begin shutting down water and electrical service at 3 p.m. Saturday. Teams are welcome to stay and enjoy the evening’s live music, food trucks and beverages, but power will no longer be available.
Turn-In Schedule
Before Cooking
- All meat will be inspected upon arrival at High Park. No trimming, seasoning or other preparation may begin before inspection.
- KCBS representatives will distribute an approved, numbered turn-in container for each meat category during the Cook’s Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, at the judging tent.
Saturday Turn-Ins
Bring all entries to the judging tent at the following times on Saturday, June 12:
Chicken — 12 p.m.
Ribs — 12:30 p.m.
Pork — 1 p.m.
Brisket — 1:30 p.m.
Awards & Prize Money
- A total of $20,000 in prize money will be awarded across all Smoke on the Plains competitions.
- In the KCBS Master Series, the Grand Champion will receive $1,500, and the Reserve Grand Champion will receive $1,000, based on combined scores across all four meat categories.
- Cash prizes and awards will be presented through 10th place in chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket
Backyard BBQ Competition
Ready to put your barbecue skills to the test? Backyard teams will compete in chicken and pork ribs, with entries judged according to current KCBS rules and judging procedures.
Teams must enter both meat categories to qualify for awards and prize money.
Team Setup & Arrival
Arrival and Parking
- Each team may bring one vehicle into the competition area. All additional vehicles must be parked in the designated contestant parking area.
- Staff will begin placing teams at 8 a.m. Friday, June 11.
- Backyard teams receive a 20-by-20-foot competition space at High Park.
- Spaces will be assigned in arrival order and positioned by staff to streamline electrical hookups. Spaces may not be saved or selected in advance.
Cooking and Site Services
- Teams may cook on any approved non-gas grill or smoker.
- Each space includes access to 120V, 30-amp electrical service. Teams must provide their own extension cords.
- Free ice will be available near the competition area.
Teardown and Departure
Teams planning to leave after the awards ceremony should be packed and disconnected from power and water before 3 p.m. Saturday. Staff will shut down electrical and water service during the awards ceremony.
Turn-In Schedule
Before Cooking
- All meat will be inspected upon arrival at High Park. No trimming, seasoning or other preparation may begin before inspection.
- KCBS representatives will distribute an approved, numbered turn-in container for each category during the Cook’s Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, at the judging tent.
Saturday Turn-Ins
Bring all entries to the judging tent at the following times on Saturday, June 12:
Chicken — 12 p.m.
Pork Ribs — 12:30 p.m.
Awards & Prize Money
The Backyard BBQ Competition will recognize an Overall Champion with a trophy. Cash prizes will also be awarded to the top five teams in each meat category.
Chicken
1st Place — $300
2nd Place — $200
3rd Place — $150
4th Place — $100
5th Place — $80
Pork Ribs
1st Place — $300
2nd Place — $200
3rd Place — $150
4th Place — $100
5th Place — $80
KCBS People's Choice Competition
Festival guests become the judges in this crowd-favorite tasting competition, choosing the team that serves Derby’s best pulled pork.
The People’s Choice Competition will take place Friday, June 11. Pulled pork may be prepared before teams arrive at High Park, with each participating team providing the equivalent of three pork butts.
Teams must use the official competition containers provided for turn-in. Participating teams will receive a discount on their competition entry fee.
Turn-In Schedule
- Participating teams must deliver their pulled pork to the designated turn-in location by 6 p.m. Friday, June 11. Official competition containers must be used for all entries.
Awards & Prize Money
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five People’s Choice teams:
1st Place — $500
2nd Place — $450
3rd Place — $400
4th Place — $275
5th Place — $175
KCBS Kids Que
Registration
- Two age divisions will compete: ages 6–10 and ages 11–15.
- Participation is limited to 20 total competitors across both divisions.
- A completed entry form and payment of the entry fee are required to secure a spot.
- Entry fees are nonrefundable once registration has been accepted.
- A parent or legal guardian must sign the participant’s entry form.
- Each participant and their parent or guardian must attend the Cook’s Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2027, at the judging tent.
- Competition officials will announce when participants may begin cooking.
Contest Information
Participant Responsibilities
- Each participant will be assigned a cooking area with table space. All supplies and equipment must remain within the assigned space.
- Participants will receive a small grill and 1 pound of ground beef. A Derby firefighter will light each grill.
- Ground beef must be the entry’s primary protein. Additional proteins, such as bacon or sausage, may be used as supporting ingredients.
- Each participant will receive one numbered foam container for judging.
- Participants may provide their own seasonings, sauces, condiments, buns, cheeses, garnishes and other ingredients. Standard KCBS garnish rules do not apply.
- Participants must prepare, season, cook and present their own entry without assistance from a parent or guardian. Adults may help only when a task cannot be completed safely by the participant.
- Entries must provide enough food for six judges to sample, although six individual portions are not required.
- Cooked meat must be held at 160°F or higher until turn-in.
- Participants must clean their assigned cooking area after the competition.
- Derby BBQ staff will empty and cool the grills before participants take them home.
- Failure to follow contest rules may result in disqualification.
Judging
Entries will be evaluated on:
- Appearance
- Tenderness and texture
- Taste
Parent or Guardian Requirements
- A parent or guardian must remain on site with the participant from setup through teardown.
- Participants who are not under adult supervision may be disqualified.
- Adults may not coach or assist with preparation or cooking during the competition, except when needed for safety.
- Smoke on the Plains staff and Derby Fire & Rescue personnel will be available to assist with grills, hot coals and other safety concerns.
Turn-In & Awards
Turn-In
All entries must be delivered to the clearly marked Judging Tent at 7 p.m. Friday, June 11. Entries may be submitted within five minutes of the official turn-in time.
Awards
- Kids Que awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m. Friday, June 11, at the Kids Que cooking area.
- Cash prizes will be awarded in each age division:
1st Place — $200
2nd Place — $150
3rd Place — $100
- The first-place winner from each age division will also be recognized during the BBQ Team Awards at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Mainstage.
If you have questions about the Kids Que Contest, contact Andrea Walters at 788-1519 ext. 1248 or andreawalters@derbyks.gov .
Ancillary Pie or Cookie Contest
Show off your baking skills at Smoke on the Plains. These community contests welcome bakers of all experience levels and offer another fun way to be part of the festival.
Pie Contest
The Pie Contest is open to the public. Entries will be judged on Saturday based on taste, appearance and overall presentation, with winners recognized during the BBQ Awards ceremony.
Youth Cookie Contest
The Cookie Contest is open to young bakers ages 6–15. Judging will take place following the KCBS Kids Que competition, with entries evaluated on taste, appearance and overall presentation.
Whether you bake a time-tested family pie or a creative batch of cookies, bring your best recipe and join the competition.
If you have questions about the Ancillary Contests, contact Andrea Walters at 788-1519 ext. 1248 or andreawalters@derbyks.gov .