Western PA BBQ and Steak Events
If there’s a BBQ festival or competition within 2-3 hours driving distance from the Pittsburgh area, you’ll find it here. Even a few with our neighboring states! If you have an event, contact us with the info and we’ll get you added.
2020 Steak Cookoff Association Competition Schedule
**NOTE** Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing most of the events for 2020 are being rescheduled. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest local SCA event information.
First time checking out a festival? Here is when we visited “Grill Your Ace Off”!
2018 saw the first-ever SCA event in Western PA and as a 1st-time competitor myself, I can say it was a CRAZY GOOD TIME so I’ve decided to add them to the list. Unlike most BBQ competitions it’s a quick day and a few minutes cooking steak can win you $1000. Interested? Keep reading!
Here are the events in PA/OH as of right now. There are several double steak competitions this year so get ready to grill your steak off!
- York County BBQ Festival Steak Cookoff – Delta, PA
Friday, June 26th – 1st Place $1000 – WINNERS - Smoke in the Grove – Kennie’s Steak & Sausage Challenge – Spring Grove, PA
Friday, July 24th – 1st Place Steak: $1000 – WINNERS | 1st Place Sausage: $500 – WINNERS - Grill on the Hill Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – Catawissa, PA
Saturday, August 1st – both cookoffs have 1st Place: $1000 – WINNERS - Lancaster BBQ Supply Spring Break Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – Lancaster, PA
Saturday, August 15th – both cookoffs have 1st Place: $1000 – WINNERS - Grill Your Ace Off (DOUBLE) – West Newton, PA
Saturday, August 29th – both cookoffs have 1st Place: $1000 – WINNERS - Elk County Steak Showdown – Ridgeway, PA
Saturday, September 5th – 1st Place $1000 – WINNERS - Meadow Creek Double Dutch Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – New Holland, PA
Saturday, September 19th – 1st Place $1000 – WINNERS N/A - Lancaster BBQ Supply Fall Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – Lancaster, PA
Saturday, October 24th – both cook-offs have 1st Place: $1000 – WINNERS - Marietta River City BBQ Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – Marietta, OH
Saturday, October 31st – both cook-offs have 1st Place: $1000 - Smoke Showing Steak Cookoff (DOUBLE) – Lancaster, PA
Saturday, November 07 – both cook-offs have 1st Place: $1000 - Chill on the Hill Steak Cookoff (TRIPLE) – Catawissa, PA
Friday and Saturday, December 11/12 – all 3 cook-offs have 1st Place: $1000
2020 BBQ Competition and Festival Schedule
**NOTE** Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing most of the events for 2020 are being canceled or rescheduled. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in BBQ and event information.
Please check each event for admission and competition details. Information current as of 6/20/2020.
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= KCBS sanctioned event
April
- Canceled- Marietta River City BBQ (Marietta, OH)
May
- Canceled – Clarion BBQ Festival (Clarion, PA)
- Canceled – Erie Wild Rib Cook-Off and Music Festival (Erie, PA)
June
- Canceled – Erie Wild Rib Cook-Off and Music Festival (Erie, PA)
- Canceled- Almost Heaven BBQ Bash (Weston, WV)
- Canceled – Franklin Blues & BBQ Festival (Franklin, PA)
- Canceled – Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Cookoff/Competition (Kersey, PA)
- Canceled – Pennsylvania RibFest (Greensburg, PA)
July
- Postponed until Fall 2020 – 2nd Annual Rusty Gold Brewing Rib Cookoff (Canonsburg, PA)
- Canceled- Ceramic City Jazz, Blues, & BBQ Festival (East Liverpool, OH)
- Canceled – Seven Springs Mountain Resort Rib & Wing Festival
- 7/4 – Kill the Grill (Benezette, PA) – WINNERS
- 7/24 to 25 – Smoke in the Grove BBQ Festival (Spring Grove, PA) – WINNERS
- 7/31 to 8/2 – 6th National RibFest at Paradise Park (Cowansville, PA)
August
- Canceled – Pig Out in the Park (Frostburg, MD)
- Canceled – Route Six Ribfest (Coudersport, PA)
- 7/31 to 8/2 – 6th National RibFest at Paradise Park (Cowansville, PA)
September
- Canceled – Grill Fest (Hartville, OH)
- Canceled – Heinz Field Rib Fest (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Canceled – Oinktoberfest (Clarence, NY)
- 9/12 – 9th Annual Hopewell BBQ Cook-Off and Blues Fest (Hopewell, PA)
- 9/25 to 26 – All Fired Up & Kickin’ Ash BBQ Competition (Emporium, PA)
2021 PA State Championship
While this event is not in Western PA but in our state capital it is the last big event in PA for the year where you can flex your big BBQ muscles.
Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship
KCBS Sanctioned Event
October 8 – 9, 2021
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
2300 N. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA