105°F
weather icon Clear

Best Dam BBQ a smoking good time

Boulder city was the place to be for fans of slow smoked meats and family fun as the 12 annual Best Dam BBQ Challenge took over Bicentennial Park on Saturday.

Dozens of barbecue teams from all over the Southwest spent Friday night slow cooking pork, beef and chicken, many for more than twelve hours, in preparation for the weekend’s Kansas City barbecue Society sanctioned state championship competition.

By Saturday afternoon the smell of charred hardwood and perfectly tender meats could be detected all throughout downtown Boulder City.

Barbecue teams like Butts &Racks and Grillbillies competed in as many as four categories, submitting samples of chicken, brisket, pulled pork and ribs for the judges’ consideration.

“We grew up on great barbecue,” said Kansas City native Erik Drake, of Grillbillies, “But it took us moving to the desert to start smoking our own meats and forming a team.”

The big winner of the weekend was the team from Big Poppa Smokers, from Palm Springs, California, who brought home first place trophies for their pulled pork and brisket. They also secured the day’s biggest prize when they were named the Grand Champion after achieving the highest composite score for their four entries, an honor that comes with an automatic entry to the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational, also known as “The Jack.”

The day’s highlights included the police vs. fire department rib-eating contest, with the firefighters winning the day, and the “KidsQue” barbecue competition. Madison Millar took home first place in the 6- to 12-year-old division and Melissa Wrighthouse was named champion in the group of 13- to 18-year-olds.

Attendees rolled in from all over Southern Nevada and the American Southwest to try samples of the best Kansas City style barbecue this side of Missouri.

The festival also included plenty of diversions beyond the meat.

The Best Dam Car Show featured smoking hot rods and antique autos from across the last century. Vendors sold artisan sauces and hand mixed spices and there was a whole section of activities for children.

Contact reporter Hunter Terry at hterry@bouldercityreview.com or call 702-586-6711. Follow him on Twitter @HunterBCReview

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Healthy aging at any age

Healthy aging is the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older. It is not just for older adults. It starts at any age. There are key areas of health that can help you stay strong and healthy throughout your life.

When household products overpromise and actually deliver

Every now and again you come across a product that makes you stand back and say, “Wow, that worked way better than I thought it would!” These gleeful moments come as a welcome surprise when we’re often disappointed by products that overpromise and under-deliver. When I find these little gems, I store them away in my mental DIY toolbox. This past month, I was happy to add a few more “must have” products that exceeded my expectations.

Summer is a time to be safe

It’s a safe bet that the one thing we all have in common every summer is managing the extreme heat and our body’s reaction to the excessive temperature prevalent in our geographic location.

Free fishing fun

Logan Davis, along with his kids Winter and Maverick, tried their best to catch a fish Saturday, along with all the many others who enjoyed the city’s free fishing day at the pond at Veterans Memorial Park.

Ordinance promotes cleanliness, accessibility of public places

Individuals camping in public spaces has increased dramatically in the past few years across the nation. On May 27 the city of Boulder City joined the cities of Reno, Las Vegas, Henderson, and Sparks, along with Clark, Washoe, and Nye counties in passing a measure to expand the prohibition on camping in public places within city limits. The new ordinance goes into effect on June 19, 2025.

And all that jazz (in the park)

A relatively small but appreciative crowd turned out Saturday evening for Jazz in the Park, sponsored by the Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department and the Las Vegas Jazz Society. The evening featured the Marlane Coker Quintet and guest at Bicentennial Park.

Flushing faux pas may lead to clogs, costly repairs

When it comes to plumbing clogs, we can definitely apply the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”…or in this case, a quart of Liquid Plumr.

Art exhibition to showcase work of Connie Ferraro

Connie Ferraro has worn many hats in her life. They have included Broadway dancer, actress, wife of longtime Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro and these days, artist.

Year ending on high note at Mitchell Elementary

From the first day to the last, it takes a great deal of energy to get through a school year. The students, staff, and families are ceaseless in their efforts to ensure that we have a great year from beginning to end. We are successful because we are supported by our community.

Mental health in an aging population

The American Psychiatric Association defines mental illness as health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking, and behaviors.