The banks of the Connecticut River in Hartford will play host to a barbecue competition for 2,000 people on Labor Day weekend, organizers announced.
Riverfront Recapture — a nonprofit that manages four riverfront parks and organizes the popular annual Riverfest — has teamed up with Bear’s Smokehouse to host the New England BBQ Championships.
There will be $20,000 in prize money for the winning barbecue teams, with the first prize winner going to national championships in Florida the following month to compete for $100,000 in prize money.
Proceeds for the event will go to Riverfront Recapture programming.
The 2,000 tickets for the Sept. 5 event go on sale March 1. Most are $50, though 200 VIP tickets are priced at $95.
On Sept. 6, the competition between 30 teams will be closed to the public. The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
