From near and far, barbecue aficionados will visit Lynchburg, Tennessee, on October 24, 2009 for the 21st Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue.
Considered one of the most prestigious barbecue competitions in the world, the Jack Daniel’s Invitational will host more than 60 award-winning barbecue teams from the United States and several other countries. They’ll be competing in the categories of Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder, Beef Brisket and Chicken, as well as "Jack Daniel’s Sauce" (must contain a little of our hometown product) and Desserts. International teams enjoy being especially creative by entering their "Home Cookin’ from the Homeland," while our U.S. championship teams do the same with their "Cook’s Choice."
To qualify for "The Jack," U.S. teams must have already won a competition in which 50 or more teams participated, or they must have won a competition of at least 25 teams that has been designated a "state championship". However, not only must these teams be culinary experts, they must also be lucky. With more than 100 teams qualifying each year — and because of our limited space in Lynchburg — we must also limit the number of the teams. So in early September the names of the qualifying teams go into state lotteries to select the final competitors.
The 2008 "Grand Champion," 4 Legs Up from Great Bend, Kansas, will return to defend their title. Also appearing at this year’s Barbecue are the winners of the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Barbecue, the Memphis in May Championship, and the open division of the American Royal Barbeque in Kansas City. Additional teams from Austria, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom are already finalizing their recipes for the big event. And we even have a special "Shade Tree" contest for 36 amateur teams.
Vendors will be on hand to sell roasted corn, homemade fried fruit pies, funnel cakes, ice cream, and many other mouth-watering delicacies. Spectators are encouraged to compete in the Country Dog Contest (canines only!), Bung Pitching and Butt Bowling, while folks from Brown-Forman Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky, will be on hand to demonstrate how they "raise" the barrels that are used to mature Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey!
The fun begins at 9:00 a.m., judging starts at 11:30 a.m., and awards are presented at 5:00 p.m. (CST). Parking is free at the Moore County High School with free shuttles to the Lynchburg Town Square. Although admission is free, a donation to the Moore County Schools is appreciated as you enter the competition site located just off the Square. (Handicapped parking with special shuttle bus is at the high school.)
The Jack Daniel Distillery will give its free tours from 9:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
For those who might need lodging overnight, please check out area accommodations.
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