The Second Annual St. Louis Kosher Barbecue Competition and Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25 at Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, 650 N. Price Road.

Following up on last year’s event, which attracted about 500 attendees, event organizers say this year’s event will be even bigger and better. 

“Our first year was a blast, but we definitely learned some things so attendees should still expect an even greater event for the entire Jewish community,” said event Chair Mindy Woolf.  

New this year will be cash prizes for winners and a car show. The overall winner (Grand Champion) will be awarded $100, and each of the top scorers in the four meat categories (beef ribs, brisket, turkey and chicken) will get $50 gift certificates from Mobil on the Run. 

The St. Louis Kosher Barbecue Competition is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Association, a  20,000-member organization that sanctions more than 450 contests a year across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and in Europe.

All teams participating in the local kosher barbecue competition will purchase meat and use grills, smokers and utensils provided by NHBZ. The event will be under the Kashrut supervision of Rabbi Ze’ev Smason.

In addition to the attraction of the barbecue competitors, the family-oriented, community-wide event will include sponsor booths, tasting booths, kid activities, a car show, live music and more. 

Sponsors of the event so far include the Staenberg Family Foundation as Grand Champion Sponsor, Kohn’s Kosher, Grow And Behold, The Estates of St. Louis, the St. Louis Jewish Light, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, On the Run Mobil Services, Billy Goat Chip Company, Royal Oak Charcoal, and Armstrong Teasdale, LLP.  

Like last year’s event, this year’s event will allow for a limited number of competing teams. Teams can enter representing community organizations, synagogues or temples, men’s clubs, sisterhoods, neighborhoods, families, or just a collection of friends.  Some teams choose a theme and show up in costumes and decorate their table. Teams have already registered from New York, Chicago and Kansas City.

Teams are encouraged to register early as space is limited. Entrance forms and the official rules are available from the synagogue or online at nhbz.org.