Save the date and prepare to be amazed by everything BBQ at the 31st Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle, June 24 & 25, 2023 on Historic Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. Proclaimed the "Official National BBQ Championship" on the floor of Congress, the Giant BBQ Battle features multiple world class BBQ cooking contests with categories in chicken, beef and pork sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society. In addition, the event hosts the National Pork BBQ Championship sponsored by the National Pork Board, the Perdue Sizzlin’ Chicken Contest, Smokin’ with Smithfield Rib Contest, Turkey Smoke Contest, USO Military Chef Cook-Off featuring chefs from all major branches of the military, and fan favorite, the Junior Chef Competition, presented by Kingsford. In 2023, Beyond Meat will host the first-ever plant-based “Beyond Meat BBQ Challenge”. In the end the Grand Champion winner will be proclaimed “America’s National BBQ Champion”. In addition to the exciting and high-stakes BBQ contests, the event features celebrity chefs, competitive pitmaster appearances, cookbook authors, cooking demonstrations, plentiful free food samples, microbrew and wine sampling, and non-stop live bands playing rock, reggae, Go-Go and more great music on multiple stages. There’s plenty to entertain kids too in the Giant Kidz Zone with rides, rock-climbing, games, and family fun. Attendees enjoy sports entertainment, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, interactive exhibits, and so much more. Food sampling is elevated to new heights in the 300-foot-long Taste of Giant Sampling Pavilion, the Giant Local Flavors Tent featuring farm to table sampling and the Giant Taste of the Season Tent hosting sauces, seasonings, rubs and other cooking ingredients plus America’s Best BBQ Restaurants serving up Pulled Pork, Brisket, BBQ Chicken and all the sides on Barbecue Boulevard at the event. The event benefits the USO, Big Brothers Big Sisters & Capital Area Food Bank having raised millions of dollars for them and other District Charities in past years. This year’s BBQ Battle is shaping up to be the best yet, so stay tuned and visit BBQDC.com for updates. Tickets available at BBQDC.com.