BBQ Entry

Application & Registration Fee Deadline: September 1, 2025
$250 Registration Fee ($100 will be returned upon check-in)

The Island Men Inc present the 2025 Island Men Backyard BBQ October 17th/18th located at the Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area near Kure Beach on Pleasure Island. This year’s event is planned to be even BIGGER and BETTER than last year’s very successful event.

We will have vendors, a kids play area is planned, concessions, as well as other attractions to help promote the event.  

We will have a children’s play area to give the kids a place to have some fun. We hope you will share this with your BBQ friends so we can grow our number of contestants as we grow the size of the attending customers. Below, find this year’s contestant sign up sheet with the rules and regulations, very similar to last years. The Island Men is a 501(c)(3) charity organization that raises well over $100,000 per year, sending all of the money back into our community to help those in need and contribute to the overall quality of life on our “Little Slice of Paradise”. 

Rules and Information

Check In & Set Up – Friday the day before event day from 12 noon to 7 PM, you are encouraged to begin preparation by 6 PM. You must be Prepared to serve by 11 AM Saturday.

Provided To Each Contestant Will Be…

• A space to set up and prepare onsite.
• An opportunity to make any pork-based Pork BBQ dish of their choosing.
• Pork Butts provided by the Island Men.
• Food Grade Containers for judging submission.

Contestants must…

• Ensure pulled pork is cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees and verified by a BBQ judge prior to turn in.
• Provide a pulled pork product for judging.
• Use food grade gloves when handling all meat, cooked or uncooked.
• Provide 8 oz of cooked pork with sauce/seasoning for judging.
• No garnish allowed for judged portions.

We encourage you to begin preparation on Friday starting at 12 NOON!

Judging results will be announced at 3:30pm

Disqualification (any entry may be disqualified by the event organizer only for any of the following reasons)….

• Anything other than meat/sauce in the container for judging.
• Entry is turned in late.
• Gloves are not used when handling product.
• Meat that does not meet the required safe temperature.

Details and Awards

• Our judging panel will be made up of 5-7 individuals selected by our Judging Committee. They will be formally announced at a later date. Judges will follow North Carolina BBQ Society rules and regulations.
• There will be First, Second, and Third places awarded in the formal judging category and one People’s Choice Award.
• Winners will receive a trophy, cash prizes for the official judging results, bragging rights

Judging

• Each Judge will evaluate contestants on a 30-point scale with the below subcategories.
  • Taste – 15 Points
  • Texture – 10 Points
  • Appearance – 5 Points

• A contestant’s final score will be the average of all the Judges’ scores for their BBQ dish.
• In the event of a tie, ties will be broken by a vote by the Judges

If at any time during the event violations are observed, the contestant will be required to cease all food service operations until the violations have been corrected.

Event Terms and Conditions

• Exhibitors’/Contestants’ booth space is to be set up, open and staffed, on the day of the “Island Men Backyard BBQ”.
• Exhibitor/Contestant agrees that if accepted by Producer, “The Island Men Inc’” into the “The Island Men Inc. Backyard BBQ Cook-off”, that Producer is under no obligation to rent space to Exhibitor in future events or future years.
• Insurance, if desired by Exhibitor/Contestant, must be provided at their own expense. The Producer, The Island Men Inc., or the US Airforce Recreational Area assume no risk; and by the acceptance of this agreement, the Exhibitor/Contestant expressly releases the Producer, The Island Men Inc’, and the US Airforce Recreational Area of and from any and all liability for any damage, injury, theft, or loss to any person or goods which may arise from the rental and occupation of said space by the Exhibitor/Contestant.
• The Producer will not be liable for refunds or any other liabilities whatsoever for the failure of Exhibitor/Contestant to attend, nor refunds or other liabilities for failure to produce “The Island Men Inc. Backyard BBQ Cook-off” due to acts of God, or any other cause beyond the Producer’s control.
• The Producer may rent or license space for any exhibit of interest to the general public or of educational value. All exhibits must be designed, constructed and operated in good taste and in accordance with the best interest of the “The Island Men Inc. Backyard BBQ Cook-off” which Producer in its sole discretion shall have the right to decide. All sales, publicity and promotion activities conducted by the Exhibitor/Contestant at the “The Island Men Inc. Backyard BBQ Cook-off” must be confined to his or her space. Socially Unacceptable behavior and the use of a public-address systems are not allowed and may result in expulsion from the event.
• Exhibitor/Contestant consents those photographs taken and filming recorded of him or herself, employees and volunteers and booth and products at the festival may be used for advertising and publicity for this or any future expositions Producer may present.
• All inspections or food service permits required are the sole responsibility of the Exhibitor/Contestant. Permits are not needed for this location, as the US Airforce will provide inspection services and additional security.

Team Name *

Street Address

Apartment, suite, etc

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal Code

Website/Social Media

Contact Email Address *

Contact Phone

Number of pork butts you can cook with your equipment **Please note OPEN FIRES with wood are NOT PERMITTED at the Fort Fisher Recreational Area

Number of cooks *

CooksPlease enter contact information for each cook

Name

Email Address

Phone

Add itemRemove item

Participants consent to contest rules and waiver *

Checking this box represents your digital signature, confirming your understanding and acceptance of the event rules and regulations.

WAIVER AND RELEASE, I fully understand that participating in this event may result in accidents, illness, or injury. I am voluntarily participating in the Island Men’s Backyard BBQ Cookoff with complete understanding of the risks associated with participation in the event. In consideration of your accepting my application and being allowed to participate in the “event,” I the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby for myself and my business, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns agree to release and hold harmless the premises and grounds owner, the US Air Force Recreation Area, The Island Men Inc. and the Town of Kure Beach, North Carolina. The Island Men Inc, its affiliates, agents, volunteers and employees, from all liability for any injuries and/or illnesses that may directly or indirectly result from my conduct or from my negligence in the event, and/or from the negligence of the premises owner or the negligence of the sponsors of the event, its affiliates, agents, volunteers and employees. I also acknowledge full and sole responsibility for any and all medical expenses that I may incur as a result of any injury and/or illness related to our participation in the event. I understand and agree that this Waiver and Release is binding upon my business and me. I agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the ISLAND Men Inc. Backyard BBQ Cook-Off, the Fort Fish us Air Force Recreational Area, and the New Hanover County Board of Health. I hereby grant my consent and permission to The Island Men Inc, its affiliates, agents and employees, to use my name, my business name, photographs, videotape, motion picture recording, voice, or likeness for their purposes, including pre and post event publicity. I have carefully read this Waiver and Release and fully understand its contents. By my signature below, I consent and agree to the terms of this Waiver and Release. My signature also demonstrates consent of the rules of the event provided under separate cover.

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