Indulge in mouthwatering ribs, chicken, brisket and pork while enjoying some of the best Blues music at the Jersey Shore during the 20th Annual New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15. The event will take place at 2nd & Olde New Jersey avenues in North Wildwood.
The three-day festival will feature barbecue teams from around the country showing off their grill skills in a quest for the best barbecue. Teams will compete for glory by attempting to create masterfully marinated and seasoned meats, grilled to perfection, in order to earn the title of Grand Champion. The New Jersey State Barbecue Championship is an elite 2018 official automatic qualifying event for the World Food Championships. The Grand Champion will advance to the WFC in Orange Beach, Ala. to compete against the best of the best. The WFC is invitation only, and the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship is among only 100 international contests entitled to send its Grand Champion to the WFC! The festival will also feature FREE live Blues music performed by some of the region’s most soulful artists.
The festival kicks off Friday, July 13 with an Opening Ceremony at 4 p.m. and the Fun and Games Crew from Cat Country 107.3 from 5 to 7 p.m., along with some of the best barbecue in the state and FREE Blues performances from 4 to 7 p.m. by Billy the Kid Band and Mike Guldin and Rollin’ & Tumblin’ from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday’s festivities will conclude at 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 14, festival hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will include a live broadcast from New Jersey 106.3 WJSE from 2 to 4 p.m. A surprise ingredient, dessert and sauce contest takes place at 3 p.m. Guests can enjoy FREE live musical sets featuring Blue Bone from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the Little Red Rooster Blues Band from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Charlie Brown’s Notorious Groove from 4 to 7 p.m.; and Frank Bey & Company from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
The festival concludes on Sunday, July 15 with live broadcasts by 98.7 The Coast from noon to 2 p.m. and SoJo 104.9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Judging for the 2018 Barbecue Grand Championship – conducted by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and a panel of volunteer judges – begins at noon, with the awards ceremony commencing at 4:30 p.m. FREE live Blues performances continue with Blue Jay Slim and the Tone Blasters from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Joe Donato and Dr. Cheeko from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The 20th Annual New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival is a celebration of great food, great music and family fun you won’t want to miss, so pack up your appetite and groove to the blues in the Wildwoods Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15. Admission is FREE!
For additional information, call (609) 523-6565 or visit www.njbbq.com or www.angleseablues.com.