Open Contest (SUN ONLY) & Wild Card Entry
Open Contest (SUN ONLY) & Wild Card Entry
Grand Am Open — $150 deposit or Payment in full is required to hold your space
Teams are applying to compete in the Sunday (May 3) Open New York State Championship. Registration closes on April 24, 2026, and space will be assigned on a first-come basis — the sooner teams register and pay, the closer their site will be to the turn-in location. Space is limited.
FEES: $350 entry (discounts available). A $150 non-refundable deposit is required to hold the team’s entry.
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES:
Thursday arrival and Monday departure
Grand Am Open New York State Championship on Sunday, May 3, 2025 — 4-meat Masters KCBS contest
Either a 20’ x 30’ or 20’ x 40’ grass space; sites include both back-in and pull-through options
(1) 20-amp (household) electrical drop
Water availability from central locations
Trash pick-up service
Physical restrooms including shower stalls
Dump station
Ability to sell any pre-packaged product or merchandise without requiring a state or local tax permit — this includes sauces, rubs, shirts, hats, etc. but does NOT include any cooked meats or food prepared on-site
Ability for team’s sponsor(s) to receive discounted vendor entry, or opportunity to donate product for online and on-site giveaways
DEADLINE: April 24, 2026
Invitational Wild Card Entry - $100 entry fee
The Grand Am will conduct a Wild Card drawing open to any Sunday Open team who also wishes to compete in the Saturday Invitational, but has not qualified under the stated terms. The Wild Card drawing requires an additional $100 non-refundable entry fee to participate. The drawing will take place on April 1, 2026, and all Wild Card entrants will be notified on their selection.
Fees: $100 non-refundable entry fee to participate. If selected, the Wild Card team must pay the full $1,250 entry for BOTH contests (discounts available).
Exclusive VIP Experiences — Entry fee discounts
Teams can reduce their Grand Am entry fees by participating in public BBQ Experiences. These Experiences offer unique opportunities for Festival-goers to connect with barbecue teams and learn more about the sport. Our goal is to generate interest for more teams and judges. DISCOUNTS WILL BE APPLIED AFTER FEE SUBMISSION.
BBQ Cooking Demos [LIMIT: 8] — Saturday, May 2, 11:30am - 2:00pm — $100 discount off Sunday Open entry fee: Teams that are NOT competing in the Saturday Invitational can choose to host a cooking demo followed by sampling. The team site would be placed closer to the main festival space. We will take a maximum of 8 teams to conduct smoking or grilling demos for chicken (thighs, drums, wings), ribs, pork butt, brisket, steaks, etc. We hope to get meat donations but may lean on the team to provide the product.
Honorary BBQ Judge— Sunday, May 3, 11:30am - 2:00pm — $50 discount off Sunday Open entry fee: Participating teams will turn in two boxes for all (4) meat turn-ins, consisting of at least (6) portions per box. Both boxes will be turned in at the same time at the official KCBS turn-in table. The official numbered box will go into the KCBS Judging Tent to be judged by 100% sanctioned KCBS Judges; a second box with a large “X” on the lid (no team numbers) will go to a separate Honorary Judging location. These “X Boxes” do not require garnish and are completely anonymous and strictly for the public VIP experience — they have ZERO bearing on the official KCBS judging. VIP Honorary Judges will be guided through the entire 4-meat competition (chicken, pork ribs, pork, brisket) by a Certified KCBS Judge — eating, comparing, and discussing entries as official judges do. There will be no public interaction with this VIP offering — teams just turn in their “X Box” at the KCBS turn-in table and leave.
Optional Contest Add-ons — Each option must be individually added to cart
50 amp RV Site with dedicated water & sewer ($175)
30 amp RV Site with dedicated water ($125)
30 amp Electrical Upgrade ($100) — Teams may bring their own generators
Individual Porta Potty in Your Site ($225)
Friday night 1-Meat contest — Chicken or Ribs ($125 each)
Saturday Ancillary Category — Made With Maple ($50)
Saturday Ancillary Category — Cocktail ($50)
Sunday Ancillary Category — Sausage ($50)
Sunday Wild Child Entry ($20)