What is the grand am?

The Grand American Barbecue World Championship (the Grand Am) presented by 101.5 WPDH is a free 2-day BBQ festival featuring great BBQ, live music, beer, and all things BBQ! Besides the BBQ festival, the Grand Am consists of Invitational and Open BBQ competitions that will include world-class BBQ teams from across the United States, as well as international champions.

ABOUT the festival

FESTIVAL DATES & HOURS

May 1-3, 2026

• Friday: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

• Saturday: 11:00am – 8:00pm

• Sunday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

NEW LOCATION: Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561

ENTRY FEE:

• 13 and up — $5 each

• 12 and under — FREE

PARKING:

• General Parking (5-10 minute walk across the highway) — FREE

• Premium Parking (at Ulster County Pool) — $20 per vehicle

VIP OPPORTUNITIES: Click Here to Purchase

• ULTIMATE GRAND AM PACKAGE — $250 per person — Experience it all with the ULTIMATE GRAND AM PACKAGE! - $320 Value

  • Admission to the Festival for the ENTIRE WEEKEND

  • Premium Parking for the ENTIRE WEEKEND

  • Reserved seat at Friday’s BBQ Bash

  • Reserved seat at Saturday’s BBQ Bash

  • Reserved seat as an Honorary Judge on Sunday

• VIP BBQ BASH — 6:00pm - 8:00pm Friday or Saturday — Friday: $80 // Saturday: $100 — All you can eat BBQ AND BEVERAGES included! Award-winning barbecue Chicken, Pork and Beef will be served with all the fix-ins, traditional sides and desert. Don’t forget to wash it all down with your favorite beverage, because it’s included!!

• PREMIUM PARKING — Friday, Saturday or Sunday — $20 per vehicle — Premium Parking includes (1) on-site parking space for either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Off-site parking is a 5- to 10-minute walk to the Festival grounds.

• HONORARY BBQ JUDGE — Sunday, May 3 — 11:30am - 2:00pm — Fee: $65 each // Table of 5: $300 — Want to know what it’s like to be a BBQ judge? The Honorary BBQ Judge Experience immerses you in the competition. You will be guided through the entire 4-meat competition (chicken, pork ribs, pork, beef brisket) by a Certified KCBS Judge — eating, comparing, and discussing entries as official judges do. Go easy on breakfast because you’ll easily sample more than a pound of barbecue, and take more home with you!!

RESTROOMS: Located on festival grounds

WHERE TO STAY: CLICK HERE for Lodging and Camping suggestions

YOU CAN BRING

• (1) Bottle of water in a sealed, unopened container

• Small handheld bag — no backpacks!! — which may be searched upon entry

• Collapsible chairs

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Firearms, explosives, and weapons of any kind (including guns, pocket knives, pepper spray, fireworks, laser pointers, etc.)

• No Cigarettes, E-Cigs or Vaping devices inside festival grounds

• Pets

• Illegal and Illicit substances of any kind

• Drugs or drug paraphernalia

• Outside food or beverage (including alcohol of any kind) — please notify us upon entry of any dietary requirements for children or others that might require food to be brought in

• Coolers of any kind

• Drones or any other remote flying device

• Glass Containers

• Framed backpacks

• Totems, Flags, Banners

• Professional-grade radios or walkie-talkies

• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts (including red wagons) or any personal motorized vehicles

• Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind

• No Inflatable furniture (rafts, chairs, etc.)

• Regular fold-up lawn chairs

• Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed. No unauthorized solicitation and materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, samples, etc.

SECURITY & ENTRY

For the safety of everyone entering the festival, all patrons are subject to a full and complete search prior to entry. This may include a full body pat-down and magnetometer screening. If you would like to be screened by security personnel of your same gender, please let security personnel know prior to the search process. Screening of children will always take place with the consent of a parent or guardian.

1. Please review the Prohibited items list for a stress-free entry process.

2. By arriving at the event, you agree to allow all bags to be searched before entry.

3. Persons that refuse to comply with the search policy will be refused entry into the event.

4. At any time during the entry process if you have questions, ask for assistance from Festival Staff located at the front gates.

SAFETY

We make every effort to create a safe environment on the festival grounds, including public and private security and medical staff. If you need any assistance, seek out the medical tent, or look for a security / police officer or festival staff member.

If you appear intoxicated (and it’s our call), you may be refused entry, refused additional beer purchases, or asked to vacate the festival grounds. We recommend having a Designated Driver to ensure a safe departure.

LEGAL

Entry is for festival, not for a specific artist, vendor, or competitor. Artists and schedule subject to change without notice. “Management” means Great Events USA LLC and their affiliates. Management reserves the right to refuse admission or to eject any person who fails to comply with the rules of the venue, local, state or federal law or whose conduct is deemed illegal, disorderly, or offensive by Management. Persons entering the facility are subject to search for contraband. Festival attendees bear all risks of personal injury incidental to the event, whether occurring before, during or after the event. Festival attendees bear all risks, including cancellation of the event and of inclement weather. The resale or attempted resale of VIP offers is prohibited and if discovered will result in the VIP offer being voided without refund. The ticket may not be used for advertising promotion (including contests and sweepstakes), or other trade purposes without the express written consent of Management. Festival attendees consent to Management’s use of their image or likeness incidental to any video display, transmission, or recording of the event.

Questions?