Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
Willingham’s® World Champion BBQ returns to the Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship in Lebanon, Tennessee, on March 19–20, 2027 — competing in the professional field and supporting the event as a sponsor and partner.
The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned contest is held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, home of the Wilson County Fairgrounds, just east of Nashville. The field is set for 140 professional teams and 60 backyard teams, with the professional teams cooking all four KCBS categories — chicken, ribs, pork and brisket — for a $10,000 cash purse.
Friday night opens with the Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Challenge and the Allegiance Rib Challenge. Saturday is the championship: turn-ins begin at noon and awards are at 5:00 PM.
Event details
- When: Friday–Saturday, March 19–20, 2027
- Where: James E. Ward Agricultural Center (Wilson County Fairgrounds), 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, TN 37087
- Sanctioning: Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS)
- Friday: Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Challenge turn-in 7:00 PM · Allegiance Rib Challenge turn-in 7:30 PM · awards 8:30 PM
- Saturday: Chicken 12:00 PM · Ribs 12:30 PM · Pork 1:00 PM · Brisket 1:30 PM · awards 5:00 PM
- Event site: smokeontheshores.com