State Barbecue Championship Returns to Warren County on April 28

The 2nd New Jersey KnoQ-out, part of the Campground BBQ contest series that takes place in six states at local campgrounds, will be held at TripleBrook Camping Resort in Blairstown on Sunday, April 28. This a nationally sanctioned barbecue contest brings together 50 BBQ teams from throughout the Northeast U.S. and Canada – all vying for the title of New Jersey State BBQ Champion.

“TripleBrook has proven to be a great host for this state barbecue championship, offering a beautiful location plus all the services and amenities that our teams and judges require,” said organizer Jeremy Garrett of Waterbury, Vermont. “Last year saw more than 40 teams, and this year we’ll top 50!”

All judging for the contest is done by certified judges who have taken specialized classes, but public attendees are welcome to visit teams and talk about barbecue on Saturday and Sunday, Garrett explained. He did note that between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, teams are less likely to be sociable because they are rushing to make last-minute tweaks to their dishes before turning them in to be judged.

After the final turn-in at 1:30 p.m., teams celebrate their successful cook and are eager to share their stories with newcomers, while awaiting the final results. Guests are urged to stick around and cheer on the winning teams at the awards ceremony, which takes place around 3:45 p.m.

Entry costs $5 per vehicle for guests who are not staying overnight. TripleBrook owner Ira Alexander said he is excited to host this state championship again because it’s great to see the camaraderie and interactions between the campers and cooks and the park smells wonderful for days. Visit www.triplebrook.com for directions to TripleBrook Camping Resort.