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Barbecue teams and cooks from all over the United States will be competing for the coveted title of Grand Champion of the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle. The BBQ Battle will be happening on June 27 and 28, 2025 in Lenexa, which is in the greater Kansas City area.
History
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle was first held in 1982 with 12 barbecue teams, 12 judges and no prize money. In 1982, Governor John Carlin declared it to be the official Kansas State Championship. It now attracts more than 150 barbecue team and the Grand Champion will win $3,000.
Friday Night
On Friday night, the barbecue teams host private parties, from 4:30 pm to 11 pm at Sar Ko Par Trails Park. Admission is $5 at the gate. Food vendors will be there with food and drinks available for purchase. From 4:30 pm to 9 pm, there will be free kids’ activities, including balloon artists, bounce houses, face painting and GaGa Balls. The Stolen Winnabagos will be performing on stage from 6:30 to 10 pm.
Saturday – Competition, Judging & Awards
Saturday will be focused on the contest. Teams begin preparing their long cooks and working on their short cooks. Judging begins at 11:30 am and will continue through the afternoon. Admission is free on Saturday.
This is a barbecue competition. Teams do not provide samples. Food vendors will be present and a variety of delicious food and drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be for sale. Kids’ activities will be back for a second day.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony will take place at 4:30 pm. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded to the Top 10 contestants in 7 categories:
- Brisket
- Pork
- Pork Ribs
- Chicken
- Sausage
- Beef Steak
- Miscellaneous
The top 3 overall winners will also be recognized and you’ll learn who the Grand Champion will be.
Kansas City Barbecue
If you enjoy barbecue and would like to learn more about Kansas City barbecue, try these cookbooks. And use our links to get them at discounted prices.
- The Kansas City Barbecue Society Cookbook
- The Kansas City Barbecue Society by Kansas City Barbecue Society
- Kansas City Barbecue: Over 125 of the Recipes for Charcoal & Gas Grills
Visiting Kansas City
If you’d like to visit Kansas City to go to the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle 2025, you should consider these hotels. They are all offering discounted rates which can save you money on your stay.
If you’re going to be flying, you can use a promo code to save money on your flight here.