LOCATION

Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561

Schedule

Friday, June 5: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Saturday, June 6: 11:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday, June 7: 11:00am – 5:00pm

BBQ Contest Awards at 4:30pm Each Day

This is a RAIN or SHINE event

VIP & BBQ EXPERIENCEs

The ULTIMATE GRAND AM Package - $250

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

Premium Parking — Friday, Saturday, or Sunday

Premium Parking includes (1) on-site parking space for either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Off-site parking is approximately a 5-minute walk to the Festival grounds.

$20

BBQ Bash

Friday, May 1 — 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, May 2 — 6:00pm - 8:00pm

We’ve got the Que…..

All you can eat BBQ AND beverages included! Award winning Chicken, Pork, and Beef will be served with all the fix-ins, traditional BBQ sides and desert. Don’t forget to wash it all down with your favorite beverage, because it’s included!!

Friday: $80 // Saturday: $100

Honorary BBQ JudgE — Sunday, May 3 — 11:30am - 2:00pm

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!!

Fee: $65 each // Table of 5: $300

MerchANDISE

Get your official Grand Am merchandise only available online.

for teams

SANCTIONING BODY: Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS)

ELIGIBILITY:

1)      Saturday World Championship Invitational – Limited to the following and teams must also compete in the Sunday Open Competition:

• Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion of any sanctioned qualifier 3-Meat or 4-Meat contest held between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.

• Scored 700+ in any KCBS contest held between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.

• Current / former Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion or 1st Place Meat Category winner from any of the following World Championship events: The Jack, American Royal, Memphis In May, Houston Rodeo, KCBS Invitational, and The Grand Am.

2)      Sunday New York State Championship Open – Open to any 4-meat team.

3)      ** Wild Card Entry – A maximum (5) teams will be selected by random draw to participate in the Saturday Invitational.

Registration Deadline: April 24, 2026

for judges

Judging opportunities are open on a first-come basis to KCBS-certified judges. Judges may be asked to assist in all aspects of the weekend competitions, including seated at a table and scoring the meats; being a Table Captain; volunteering to work the Turn-In-Table, Number Changing area and/or Leftover area; assisting a team as a runner; acting as a team liaison for the VIP Pit Pass on Saturday; and acting as a Table Captain for honorary VIP judges on Sunday.