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SUN BBQ FEST

Saturday, June 17th | 11:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday, June 18th | 11:00am – 5:00pm

SUN BBQ FEST

Saturday, June 17th | 11:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday, June 18th | 11:00am – 5:00pm

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets on sale: Now

PURCHASE TICKETS

Through the Mohegan Sun Box Office, Online and at the door the day of the event.

Saturday Ticket: $15
Sunday Ticket: $10
Kids 12 & under: FREE
(does not include food & beverage)

WHAT YOU MISSED IN 2022

10 Years & Still Lit!

#SunBBQFest

Get ready for BBQ beyond belief! Over 50 different, mouthwatering, BBQ options will be available on both days! Soak in the sun and partake in outdoor activities all weekend with your friends and family. 

Celebrate a decade’s worth of the best in barbecue at Sun BBQ Fest 2023! Prepare your palate for an abundance of incredible food, cold beer, hand-crafted cocktails, and live music. Experience full plate vending from nationally acclaimed BBQ vendors, sample small bites in our “People’s Choice Competition” or taste up to five different styles of Wings & Ribs in our annual competition. Sun BBQ Fest will also showcase World Food Championship (WFC) sanctioned barbecue teams that compete all over the country! Stick around until 4:00pm on Sunday for a celebration where WFC contest winners are given out over $26,000 in prizes!

New this year! Omaha Steaks and recteq are partnering with Mohegan Sun to provide a special surprise in honor of the 10th anniversary! All ticketholders to Sun BBQ Fest will be automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win an amazing recteq grill! The lucky winner will receive the RT-B380 Bullseye Wood Pellet Grill, which is a $500 value along with a choice certificate from Omaha Steaks with a retail value of over $600! 

Wondering what else we have? Big Dog's Mobile Axe Throwing will have sessions available for guests ages 12 and up! Walk-ups are available throughout the day!

Learn more about the art of BBQ! Grab a seat at a picnic table and listen to leading BBQ Chefs, including Chad Rosenthal, who is known for his mouthwatering ribs and fried chicken. Interested in viewing the BBQ judging at the event? We are pulling back the curtain at the festival for guests to view select judging times throughout the weekend.

BBQ FEST EVENTS

BBQ Fest Live Music


WE’RE ROCKING OUT ALL WEEKEND LONG AT THE SUN BBQ FEST MAIN STAGE!

On Saturday, June 17th, we are bringing the party with can’t-miss live performance by Kameron Marlowe, HunterGirl, Red Light, and more! Wear your boots and get ready for an unforgettable night under the stars. Music starts at 2:00pm and goes through 9:00pm. Catch the amazing fireworks display at approximately 9:15pm later that night!*

*There is no rain date. In the case of inclement weather, the fireworks will be cancelled.
That announcement would be made day of, by 2:00pm.

Kameron Marlowe

kameron marlowe headshot

Breakout Country star known for his hits, “Giving You Up”, “Steady Heart” and “Girl On Fire” who has been touring with Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, and more!

HunterGirl

HunterGirl

The 2022 American Idol runner-up and Tennessee singer/songwriter hits the main stage with her new songs hitting the Billboard charts!

Red Light

Red light

Voted best band throughout Connecticut and the Northeast! Get your dancing shoes on! 

BBQ Fest Chefs


CHEFS AT THE CHEF DEMO STAGE SHARING EXCLUSIVE BBQ TIPS FROM THE PROS!

Chef Plum

Chef Plum

Hosting the Chef Demo Stage and sharing BBQ tips from the chef himself!

Chef Chad Rosenthal

Chef Chad Rosenthal

Best known for his mastery of BBQ and comfort food, the acclaimed restaurateur and food invoater is bringing his flare for cooking to the stage!

Bear's Smokehouse logo

Bear's Smokehouse

With locations in right here in CT all the way down south to Ashville, NC, Bear's is bringing the heat with saucy recipe details on the Chef Demo Stage!

Maddie & Kiki

Maddie & Kiki

Canada's favorite female Grill Masters will share their knowledge, expertise, and input on the development of new products for the BBQ market!

Chef Matt Groark headshot

Chef Matt Groark

Groark - aka TheMeatTeacher - is a teacher turned top-tier cook and recently appeared on Season 2 of Gordon Ramsey's Next Level Chef!

Tom Carman headshot

Chef Tom Carman

Bringing expert BBQ from the Omaha kitchen live at the Chef Demo Stage!

Chef Hunter

Eastern CT's Chester's BBQ is brinigng their wildly delicious recipes to life on the Chef Demo Stage! Learn about their offerings and pick up a plate at their smoker!

Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 17th

11:00am: Event open to the public - Start of People's Choice Competition
11:00am - 2:00pm: House Country
11:00am - 2:00pm: DJ Jay Friese
Noon: Rib Challenge
12:30pm - 1:00pm: Bear's Smokehouse
1:00pm: World Food Championships - Burger Turn In
1:15pm - 1:45pm: Chad Rosenthal
1:00pm - 3:00pm: Bobby Labonte
2:00pm - 2:30pm: Matt Groark
2:00pm - 3:45pm: Red Light
3:30pm: World Food Championships - Sandwich Turn In
4:00pm - 4:30pm: Chad Rosenthal
4:30pm - 5:00pm: Matt Groark
5:15pm - 5:45pm: Maddie & Kiki
6:00pm - 6:45pm: HunterGirl
6:00pm: Wing Challenge
7:15pm - 9:00pm: Kameron Marlowe
9:15pm: Fireworks presented by Red Bull
10:00pm: Event ends

Sunday, June 18th

11:00am: Event open to the public - Start of People's Choice Competition
11:00am - 2:00pm: DJ E@ZY
11:00am - Noon: Red Bull Hosted Stage
11:00am: World Food Championships - Chicken Turn In
Noon: World Food Championships - Rib Turn In
Noon - 12:30pm: Maddie & Kiki
12:45pm - 1:15pm: Tom Carman (Omaha Steaks)
1:00pm: World Food Championships - Pulled Pork Turn In
1:30pm - 2:00pm: Chef Plum
2:15pm - 2:45pm: Chef Hunter Shepherd (Chester's Barbecue)
2:00pm: World Food Championships - Brisket Turn In
2:45pm: World Food Championships - Dessert Turn In
4:00pm: WFC Awards, MS Contest Awards
5:00pm: Event Ends

Exciting Events

Cornhole Tournament

Wicked Cornhole will host a pro-standard Cornhole Tournament on Saturday and Sunday! Guests will need to download the “Scoreholio” app as well to participate in the tournament. There will be a winning team announced for each day of the event! Each winning team will take home $250 in cash, a one-night free hotel stay and two tickets to see a show in the Arena! (For available dates)

 

Axe Throwing

Wondering what else we have? Big Dog’s Mobile Axe Throwing will have sessions available for guests ages 12 and up! Walk-ups are available throughout the day!

FIRE PITS

Pull up a seat to relax by the fire pits at the bar, available for guests 21+.

No underage guests are allowed within this seating area.

Fire Pit Reservations

 

 

BBQ COMPETITIONS

Saturday, June 17th

FULL PLATE VENDING
$2 PEOPLES CHOICE SAMPLES
5 RIBS FOR $5 RIB CHALLENGE
5 WINGS FOR $5 WING CHALLENGE

Sunday, June 18th

FULL PLATE VENDING
$2 PEOPLES CHOICE SAMPLES

People’s Choice

Participating WFC teams will be selling $2 BBQ samples throughout the weekend! 

Vote for your favorite People’s Choice entry throughout the weekend.

Voting will be run from 11:00am on Saturday until 3:00pm on Sunday. 

Guests will see signage and directions for choosing their favorite sample and will be able to vote accordingly.

1st Place: $700
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $200

Rib Challenge – to benefit Operation BBQ Relief!

WFC competitors will be given racks of ribs that they can prepare in any flavor they wish!

For a $5 entry, try any five ribs and vote for your favorite! Availability is limited!

Purchase Mohegan Sun food tickets outside the tent at the cashier/ticket booth to use for your selection.

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200

Wing Challenge – to benefit Operation BBQ Relief!

Competitors will be given chicken wings that they can prepare in any flavor they wish! 

For a $5 entry, try any five wings and vote for their favorite! Availability is limited!

Purchase Mohegan Sun food tickets outside the tent at the cashier/ticket booth to use for their selection.

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200

World Food Competition Contests

Teams can compete for over $26,000 in prizes in the following categories: Barbecue, Dessert, Burger and the all-new Sandwich contest.

Portions of the WFC competition will be viewable on a first come, first served basis, while seats are available.

The judging may be closed to the public for certain categories, and judges must pre-register.

 

 

 

 

Please Note

Security will be checking IDs upon entry and providing wristbands to guests age 21+

Seating by the fire pits at the bar is available for guests 21+; no underage guests are allowed within this seating area. 

To streamline purchases, all vendors and bars will have their own point of sale, accepting cash or cards. An ATM will also be available inside the Winter Bus Lobby.