How is the Memphis in May barbecue contest different for 2024? Here's all the details

Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Updated ·4 min read

Memphis in May has made some changes to the 2024 events, but there's still plenty to do for those who have been attending for years.

The festivities for Memphis in May, which typically begin the first weekend in May, were pushed back to the middle of the month for 2024. With no Beale Street Music Festival happening, the first event for Memphis in May this year is the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest that starts on May 15 and ends May 18.

After the Barbecue Cooking Contest, the next big event is the annual Great American River Run which takes place Memorial Day weekend.

If you've never been to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest or wonder what's different about the festivities this year, here's what to expect.

What is different about the Memphis in May Barbecue Cooking Contest for 2024?

The biggest difference with the cooking contest this year is the location. Rather than being right along the Mississippi River, the festival will take place at Liberty Park next to Liberty Stadium at 335 South Hollywood Street.

A new barbecue contest, SMOKESLAM − the World’s Ultimate BBQ Showdown, will be at Tom Lee Park this year instead of Memphis in May's barbecue contest.

Where should I park for the Memphis Barbecue Cooking Contest?

Parking will be available at and around Liberty Park during open hours. Memphis in May added a third gate on East Parkway this year to allow more access to attendees.

Mariah Garland (above) and Jennifer Justice (below) wrestle in sauce during the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Participants, both amateurs and professionals, wrestled in barbecue sauce
Mariah Garland (above) and Jennifer Justice (below) wrestle in sauce during the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Participants, both amateurs and professionals, wrestled in barbecue sauce

Does anything happen besides cooking at the Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis?

While people from around the world come to the contest to enjoy barbecue and cook out, there are plenty of other sites to see while at the contest. Each night there is a range of festivities that include live music, a Ms. Piggy costume contest and a barbecue sauce wrestling contest.

There is a full schedule for the stage as well as a week's worth of cooking demonstrations. There will be barbecue cooking demonstrations at The Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen, The McCormick Demo Stage and Big Green Egg and Friends. All of these demonstrations will take place in BBQ Alley at the contest.

Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. will have a series of award ceremonies. Award can range from booth decoration to t-shirt design to the actual awards for the cooking contest. Here's the schedule:

Wednesday

  • Lighting of the Grill: 6:30 p.m.

  • Sauce Wrestling: 7:00 p.m.

Thursday

  • Ms. Piggy Idol Ceremony: 6 p.m.

  • Live Music from Marcy Playground: 8:30 p.m.

Friday

  • Live Music from Ingram Hill: 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Live music from DJ Mic Tee: 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. after the awards ceremony

Can I buy barbecue at the Memphis in May Barbecue Cooking Contest?

Yes and no. Since it is a cooking competition, the teams are cooking to prepare for the competition and judging. Local health department regulations prohibit teams from serving barbecue to the general public.

Even though you can't buy barbecue from the teams, there will be food vendors at the park that will have barbecue and a number of other foods. In BBQ Alley, there will barbecue available to buy as well as other vendors like Big G’s, Yancey’s and Matai’z Polynesian Grill along with Al Forno Pizza, Pronto Pups and Mempops.

Do I have to know a team to get into the Memphis in May event?

While it is not required to know a team to get into the festival, it is recommended to know one. Not only are you less likely to have to pay for food and drinks if you know a team, but you will also have a place to hang out rather than having to walk around the entire time. Many teams will not let you into the booth unless you know a team member.

Booths in the Whole Hog section of the park are seen as a University of Memphis flag flies from the top floor of the Barbeque Republic booth before the start of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
Booths in the Whole Hog section of the park are seen as a University of Memphis flag flies from the top floor of the Barbeque Republic booth before the start of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Can I go in and out of the Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis?

No. Only people who have team wristbands and VIPit pass holders will be able to enter and reenter the park. All general admission tickets are allowed a single entry with no reentry.

Single day general admission tickets are $15 a person, and a four-day general admission pass is $54 per person.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 2024 Memphis in May Barbecue Contest: Where it is, tickets, more