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Would you like a weekend full of fun, food and music? Does that sound good to you? How about if some of that food was barbecue, Kansas barbecue, that is! I think we may be approaching perfection. If that sounds fantastic to you, then you’re going to love the 15th Annual Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Festival. It’s coming to high Park in Derby, Kansas, in the greater Wichita area. It will be happening on June 12 and 13, 2026. It’s open to the public and admission is free!
Festival Hours
- Friday – 6 pm to 10 pm
- Saturday – 9 am to 3 pm & 6 pm to 10 pm
- Barbecue awards will be given out from 3 pm to 6 pm
Attendees can purchase a tasting kit for $5, starting at 6:30 pm on Friday. This will contain 6 two ounce samples of pulled pork prepared by the BBQ teams. A token will be in the kit. Attendees can use this to vote for the barbecue team they think did the best job on the pulled pork. This is a delicious activity.
BBQ Competitions
The BBQ Contests will be fun to watch. The Kansas City Master Series BBQ Competition will include 4 meats – Chicken Pork, Ribs and Brisket. The Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will win $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.
The Backyard BBQ Competition is for aspiring pitmasters and will have 2 categories – Chicken and Pork. First prize is $300 and the prize for second place is $200.
There will be 2 Kids Ques, one for 6 to 10 year olds and another for 11 to 15 year olds. The first place winner in each division will win $200 and a $150 prize will go to the second place winner with $100 going to the third place winner.
The American Pie & Cookie Contest
Show off your baking prowess at Smoke on the Plains! The Pie Contest and Cookie Contest are open to the public and welcome all levels of baking experience.
Pies will be judged on Saturday with winners announced at the 3 pm awards ceremony.
The Cookie Contest is open to young bakers, aged 6 to 15 years, and will be judged following the Kids Cue Contest. Each entry will be judged on taste, appearance and overall presentation.
The Kids Corner
There will be fun for all ages. The Kids Corner will have inflatables, foam parties, princess lessons, face painting, playing catch and much more.
Entertainment
There will be live music during their festival. You can catch live performances on the Derby Mainstage.
Schedule
Friday
- 6 pm to 7:30 pm – Nailbiters
- 8 pm to 10 pm – Paramount
Saturday
- 6 pm to 7:30 pm – Matthew Ebberweck
- 8 pm to 10 pm – Jaelen Johnston
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and settle in to enjoy the great entertainment.
Festival Activities
Food Truck Row will have a variety of different delicious food options plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The Smokin’ 5K will take place at 7:30 am on Saturday. There will be a cornhole tournament on Friday night for prizes and bragging rights.
Barbecue
If you enjoyed the barbecue and want to learn more about preparing barbecue, try the following cookbooks, And use our links to get them at discounted prices.
- Step by Step Sensational of Barbecues
- Barbecue! Sauces, Rubs & Marinades by Steven Raichlen
- The Cook’s Illustrated Guide to Grilling & Barbecue
Visiting Wichita
If you’d like to visit Wichita to go to the Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Festival, you should consider these hotels. They have discounted rates and you can book a night’s stay for under $100 a night.