Frank Stanko Local, News

Meat, music, and more Saturday at Sturgis Barbecue Fest

Since 2018, the Sturgis Barbecue Fest has brought guests to downtown for a fall afternoon of fun. (Photos Courtesy Ryan Conrod)

Bring on the grills, the meat, and the fun. The Sturgis Barbecue Fest returns to downtown this Saturday.

Happening at North and John Streets in Sturgis, the Barbecue Fest has been a tradition since 2018. This year’s event, funded by the Sturgis Downtown Development Authority and sponsors, lasts from 12-7 p.m.

“People can come and go or stay all day,” Downtown Events Coordinator Ryan Conrod said. “It’s just a fun addition to downtown that we do every year.”

This year’s contests include the barbecue competition. Traditionally, around 10-12 competitors participate in the event, which includes judging from a panel and also the public.

“The panel of judges will be done by 4 p.m., when they’ll announce the winners of the different food categories. There’s the people’s choice, the best chicken, the best ribs, the best in show, and more,” Conrod said.

People’s choice winners will be determined by guests who sample from the competitors. Between 40-50 punch cards will be available for the sampling and voting visitors.

The Sturgis Barbecue Fest offers both food from barbecue competitors and a variety of vendors.

In addition to the barbecue competitors, the Sturgis Barbecue Fest will also include food truck vendors.

“There’ll be other, non-barbecue vendors for those who don’t want that,” Conrod said.

Saturday will also have a contest not related to food. The 3 p.m. beard contest will include winners for hair between 0-4 inches and 4 inches or longer. There will also be winners for goatees, mustaches, and the best in show.

“It’s just something fun that we’ve added,” Conrod said.

When they’re not eating or checking out the beards, Sturgis Barbecue Fest visitors can enjoy:

  • music from Phins Up, playing between 4-7 p.m.
  • music by a DJ from 12-4 p.m.
  • a cornhole tournament
  • the beer tent
  • the Classic Car Cruise-In
  • wagon rides
  • bounce houses
  • pumpkin and face painting

“This year, the Michigan-Minnesota football game will be on the big screen movie truck,” Conrod said. “It starts at noon. The game will be playing where our events are at, and the beer tent will be open.”

For more information, visit sturgisbbqfest.com.

Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.