Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout Set to Rock Oviedo This Weekend

Grab your best BBQ Bib and get ready to feast on some of of the most amazing competition BBQ Florida has to offer at this weekend’s Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout! All told, 57 professional BBQ teams, 14 professional backyard teams and 10 amateur backyard teams will be loading up their cookers and letting that thin blue smoke roll starting this Friday night moving on into the professional judging session on Saturday.

Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout Promo Video!

This Year’s Winners Move Towards Qualification in 3 National Events

Sanctioned by the Florida Bar-B-Que Association, Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout, professional level competitors are vying for their piece of a cash prize purse valued at more than $12,000.  Here’s how the prize money breaks down:

Prize Money Breakdown

• Grand Champion –  $2500
• Reserve Champion –  $1200
• 3rd Overall – $600
• 4th Overall –  $500
• 5th Overall –  $400
• 6th Overall –  $350
• 7th Overall –  $300
• 8th Overall –  $250
• 9th Overall –  $200
• 10th Overall –  $100

Cash Awards By Category

• 1st – $400
• 2nd – $300
• 3rd – $200
• 4th – $150
• 5th – $100
• 6th – $50
• 7th – $50
• 8th – $50
• 9th – $25
• 10th – $25

People’s Choice Award – $300

Backyard Division Prizes: 

Grand Champion –  Trophy + 2015 free entry
Reserve Champion –  Trophy + 1/2 entry fee
1st-3rd in each category –  Trophy

National BBQ Competition Qualifiers On The Line

In addition to the impressive prize money offering for Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout, this event is a triple qualifier for the following Premier National BBQ Events:

• Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue
• American Royal Invitational Barbecue Championship
• World Food Championships

Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue

Considered the Super Bowl of barbecue competitions, the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue occurs every October in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The competition, referred to as “The Jack”, features a who’s who in the BBQ world. To qualify for entry, these teams must win a state championship with at least 25 teams or a competition of 50 teams, or win one of the premiere barbecue competitions that qualify a team for an automatic berth.

American Royal Invitational Barbecue Championship

The American Royal Invitational contest national championship with over 150 teams competing annually! Teams from the United States, Canada and abroad, who have won a Grand Championship at a qualifying contest between August 1, 2013-July 31, 2014 will be invited to compete at the American Royal alongside the best of the best in the competitive barbecue circuit.

World Food Championships

The World food Championships is the highest stakes food competition in the world. This four day, $300,000 competition will showcase some of the world’s best culinary masters squaring off in Downtown las vegas for food, fame and fortune!

Music and Entertainment at This Year’s Event

Family fun and musical entertainment is a huge part of Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout! There’s a great Kid’s Zone planned, and the musical acts include:

• Bubba Wilson and Jeff Howell Band
• Dorsey Hisself Odell
• Bailey Callahan
• Good Lucky Penny
• Amanda Cooksey
• Swain Sumner Band
• The Dealers
• School of Rock

If you see only ONE act… it MUST Be Dorsey “Hisself” Odell!

As you can see, there’s an impressive list of musical talent! That said, this is a BBQ blog – so I have to give props to my Redneck Homeboy Mr. Dorsey “Hisself” Odell. He’s a hell raiser, a 10,000 volt human taser, and flat out sharper than any razor you’ll find this side of the Mason Dixon line. Don’t believe me? Check out this video of him performing “Truck Driver” by Scott H. Biram.

BBQ Smoker and midnight toker of the now infamous Team Unknown.  Dorsey is prone to channeling simultaneously the spirits of Hank Sr, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. His ability to embrace country music traditions of outsiders and outlaw forces is legendary. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, you’ll likely find Dorsey holdin’ the damn match!

Kudos to the Event Organizers and Final Thoughts

I’m very excited to be judging Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout this  year. As far as Florida Bar-B-Que Association events go, it’s one of the biggest and best. With a strong field of competition, big payouts, and role as a triple National BBQ event qualifier, it just don’t get much better than this.

Online Judges Applications – YES!

To Angela Iversen and Mr. Jim Frazee, I say well done for pulling together what promises to be one heck of an event. Thanks to you both especially for using an online BBQ judges sign up process. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate not having to email an application, fax it, or send one via “snail mail.” As far as I know, Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout is the only FBA event using an online sign up process. I sure hope to see more of this in the future. Good lord, we are in the 21st century!

To all of my competitor friends, best of luck to you!  I know Imperial Polk County, FL will surely be well represented by teams like Team Unknown (2013 Grand Champion), Sweet Smoke Q (2013 Reserve Grand Champion), Swamp Boys, Hogs Gone Wild, Smokin’ J’s Florida, and Good Buddies BBQ.

If you’re planning on attending, shoot me a line here in the comments so we can catch up, share a cold beer, and tell a few lies!

Event Information and Direction

Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout

Location: 

Oviedo Mall
1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd.
Oviedo, FL 32765

Live Music and BBQ:  Friday May 23 6 pm – 10 pm
Festival: Saturday May 24 10 am – 6 pm