Directions

Decatur, AL

Riverfest is recognized by the State of Alabama as an official State Barbeque Championship competition.  The cook-off is sanctioned by, and conducted under, the rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, a national organization.  Grand Champion winner of Riverfest automatically qualifies for the American Royal World Championship Barbecue Cook-off in Kansas City, Missouri and is entered into the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational drawing.

Riverfest features over 70 professional and civilian BBQ cooking teams from all over the United States competing for prize money and trophies totaling $20,000.00. The teams will be competing in such categories as beef brisket, pork ribs (loin/spare), chicken, pork (shoulder/butt), and best sauce. Along with the cooking competition, there will be food vendors, live music, children's activities, and the Ducky Derby.   

Riverfest is currently recognized as a Top 10 Event by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel and as a Top 20 Event by the Southeastern Tourism Society.  Riverfest was also named the 2006 Event of the Year by the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association

 All proceeds benefit local charities. 

2008 Riverfest Barbeque Cook-off Entry Form

Riverfest Layout

Schedule of Events*

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Saturday, September 13, 2008

*Schedule subject to change without notice.

**Live Entertainment is booked through our Talent Agency in Birmingham, AL. 

We do use local artists/groups, but we generally book through the

Agency and only book local artists that we have seen perform live.  

Anyone interested in being considered for Live Entertainment

should submit a demo CD and photograph to:

Decatur Jaycees Riverfest Music

PO Box 1026

Decatur, AL  35602

2008 Riverfest Barbeque Cook-off Entry Form

(check back later for the 2008 form)

Riverfest Layout

The Riverfest Barbeque Cook-off Culinary Judging

The Contest

*The Riverfest Cook-off will be held Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Ingall's Harbor on the beautiful Tennessee River in Decatur, AL.

*The Riverfest Cook-off is sponsored by the Decatur Jaycees

*Competition is open to everyone, professionals and amateurs.  There is no limit to the number of cooks on a team.  Contestants who are not members of the Kansas City Barbeque Society must pay a $25.00 KCBS competition fee.  To avoid this fee, all you have to prove is that one of your head cooks is a KCBS member in good standing by providing their KCBS member number.   For more information on becoming a KCBS member, visit www.kcbs.us.

*Your entry allows you to compete in as many categories as you wish.  You can compete in one category or you can “Span the Species,” if you think you have the ability.

            Chicken

            Pork Ribs (Loin or Spare)

            Pork (Shoulder/Butt)

            Brisket (Beef)

            Sauce

            Dessert - not Judge by KCBS

Entry fee

*Contestants who are not members of KCBS must pay a $25.00 KCBS competition fee.  To avoid this fee, one of your head cooks has to be a KCBS member in good standing.  Their KCBS member number is needed on the entry form for verification.   For more information on becoming a KCBS member, visit www.kcbs.us.  Riverfest Cook-off entry fees are on a scale as follows:

           $250.00 - KCBS member (25'x25')

           $275.00 - non-KCBS member (25'x25')

           $275.00 - KCBS member (25'x40') "RV* spot"

           $300.00 - non-KCBS member (25'x40') "RV* spot"

           *RV spots do not guarantee there will be sufficient electricity to power your entire

             motor-home.

Contestant Responsibilities

*All contestants must be registered and in place by 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 13, 2008.  Registration and set-up will begin on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 1:00 P.M.

*Electricity is available upon request at no additional expense.  Please bring 100’ extension cord  if you desire an electrical hookup

* Sites will be approximately 25-foot x 25-foot and 25-foot x 40-foot.

*Sites will be assigned on a first come first serve basis, upon receipt of registration.  Please

   indicate the needed space on the contest application.

*Water will be available for free (you must provide hoses and wye (Y) connectors)

*Ice will be available on site at a nominal cost

*Trash must be removed by each competitor (dumpsters will be available)

*Outdoor restroom facilities will be available

*Please bring separate containers for grease and ashes

*Sanitation (wash, rinse, disinfect) will be checked at meat inspection on both days of the contest

*Proper storage of meat is required.  It must be maintained below 40°F or above 140°F

*Proper handling of food is required. 

*No beer will be allowed to be brought into Ingall's Harbor after

 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, September 12, 2008, except during

 initial team set-up.  Teams will be able to purchase Budweiser products

 from the Decatur Jaycees at cost. 

Acceptance

*The DEADLINE to enter is September 10, 2008 or until all available contestant places are filled.

 Mail to:                 

Decatur Jaycees

P.O. Box 1026

Decatur, AL  35602  

*Letters of Acceptance and packets will be mailed to each team, if entry is received before September 1, 2008.

KCBS Rules and Regulations

The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctions the competition and all KCBS Rules will apply. Once we have received your entry form, you will receive a list of the Kansas City Barbeque Society Rules and Regulations. A rulebook may be obtained from the KCBS web site www.kcbs.us.  Click on “Contest" on the menu bar.  Then click on “2008 Rules”.

Important: Fire must be of wood, wood pellets, or charcoal.  No electric or gas.

KCBS Judging Procedures

* Judging will be done by a team of 6 persons per table, who are at least 16 years of age.     

* Each judge will rate the sample for TENDERNESS, TASTE AND APPEARANCE and score from 9 to 1 point for EACH.

* Results will be tallied.  If there is a tie, it will be broken per KCBS procedure.

KCBS Instructions for Submitting Samples for Judging

*Judging will start at 11:30 am on Saturday afternoon and will be done on a category basis in  the following order.

           Sauce      11:30 am

           Chicken  12:00 pm

           Ribs        12:30 pm

           Pork          1:00 pm

           Brisket      1:30 pm

           Dessert     2:00 pm

*Turn in your sample on time.

*Submit enough of your entry to feed 6 judges and place in container.

*Remember, APPEARANCE is one of the judging criteria. 

*If you cover your meat with sauce, it will be judged that way. If you submit it dry (no sauce) it will be judged THAT way.

*Garnish is limited to green leaf (no red tipped) lettuce and common curly parsley only.  Any embellishments and your entry will be given only 1 point on Appearance.  This means NO aluminum foil.

PRIZES

Culinary: In each of the four categories, prizes will be awarded based on the KCBS scoring method.  The reward for all your outstanding efforts will be awarded at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday.  Cash prizes will be awarded as follows:

GRAND CHAMPION:                     $3,000.00 + "The Wood"

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION:  $1,500.00 + "The Wood"

PER CATEGORY:                           

FIRST PRIZE:                                $1,000.00

SECOND PRIZE:                              $750.00

THIRD PRIZE:                                  $500.00

FOURTH PRIZE:                              $300.00

FIFTH PRIZE                                    $200.00

FIRST PRIZE SAUCE:                     $500.00

FIRST PRIZE DESSERT:                 $250.00

 *In addition to the above, cash prizes will be awarded through 10th place. 

 KCBS Certified Judges who would like to be involved with Riverfest,

please contact Tiffany Brightwell at the Decatur Chamber of Commerce.

 Phone:  1-800-524-6181                    Fax:  1-256-350-2054

Riverfest Judges Application

(must be KCBS certified and in good standing)

Lodging

Hold Harmless Clause

The Decatur Jaycees shall not be responsible or liable in any way for any losses, costs, damages, liabilities, debts or expenses incurred by the participants of the 2008 Riverfest Cook-off, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns as a result of any acts, omissions or negligence of any person, firm, partnership or corporation attending or participating in the 2008 Riverfest Cook-off, whether or not the act, omission or negligence occurs prior to, during or following the 2008 Riverfest Cook-off.

For more information, contact Jeremy Ledlow