Elkmont Lions Club Backyard BBQ Cookoff Registration Closes May 28

Elkmont Lions Club Backyard BBQ Cookoff
Registration Closes May 28th

Written by

Cayce Lee

Social Media Specialist

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

Calling all Backyard Division Cookoff Teams.... the time to register for the Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cookoff is growing near -- May 28th to be precise.  This newly Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned cookoff, also part of the Alabama Barbecue Trail, is pitting the cooking skills of amateur Backyard Division teams against each other.  

The Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cookoff was already known for a highly competitive fields of talent but with the addition of the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) Sanctioning, the titles are taking on new energy.

People's Choice Awards tickets offer attendees of the festival to choose the crowd favorite while

professional judges from the KCBS circuit will be raising the bar high for the Chicken, Ribs and Pulled Pork competitions.

Cook teams interested in registering should visit:  ElkmontLionsClub.com


Additional activities lined up for the crowds coming to enjoy the barbecue cook off include a Cruise-In on Gilbert Street with prizes for registrants and guide tour of Elkmont and a concert in the evening on June 10th.

June 11th has a Cornhole Tournament at the Elkmont Depot with prizes too.  There will be live music and of course, plenty of chances to enjoy fresh barbecue.

Attendees to the barbecue cookoff can enjoy shopping Antique Paper Trail, Belle Chevre and Elkmont Saturday Market too.

For lodging and RV parks, please visit:  VisitAthensAL.com

Elkmont BBQ Cookoff Newly Sanctioned By KCBS

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

The Elkmont Alabama Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cook-Off Backyard Division is newly sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.  This new recognition means professional judges that work the KCBS circuit will be the tough tastebuds to please for the non-professional cook teams.  It also means that teams will have a chance to earn points not only with the Alabama Barbecue Association but also with the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

The Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street Barbecue Cook-Off has been a long-standing member of the Alabama Barbecue Association and the Alabama Barbecue Trail and adding the KCBS sanctioning adds another feather to this popular cookoff.

The teams pour into downtown Elkmont early Thursday before the actual competition.  They set up shop - coolers of ice, trimming meat, making sauces and talking things up -  before they prepare for a night of bringing the smokers and cookers to temp.  After a long night of tending with special wood blends, charcoals, and other such backyard secrets to get the cookers and smokers up-to-temp up, it's time for the real business on Friday.  The cook teams commence the very aromatic process of the competition that has filled the air of Limestone County to the point it has even caused pause and inquiry among the citizens in Athens to figure out where the tasty smell could be emanating from (image how alluring the smell must be at the interstate at Elkmont and the State of Alabama Welcome Center).


Backyard Teams are encouraged to signup early via the elkmontlionsclub.com website.