What is the schedule for the weekend for Smokers?

Friday, October 20, 2023

• 11:00 am: Tables and other rentals delivered to park.

• 12:00 pm: Level A (brisket) smokers may set up smoking stations in the park anytime after 12:00pm

• 6:00 pm: Chili with fixin’s available for dinner for all smokers, families, and helpers; Level B category smokers also welcome even if they are not overnight smoking

• 7:00 pm: Mandatory meeting for all Level A smokers, optional for Level B smokers but highly recommended

Saturday: October 21, 2023

• 8:00 am: Level B (category) smokers may set up in the park; continental breakfast and coffee available for smokers, team members, and set up volunteers

• 1:00 pm: Band begins set up and plays recorded music

• 1:30 pm: Event opens to community, appetizers served, fan favorite judging opens

• 2:00 p.m. Band begins playing live music

• 3:30 pm: Sides served

• 3:30 pm: Mandatory judges meeting

• 4:30 pm: Briskets turned in to judging table and served to fans

• 5:00 p.m. Fan favorite voting closes

• 6:00 pm: Band concludes live music, winners announced

• 6:30 pm: Event closes

• 8:00pm: Clean up concludes

What will smokers be provided?

• one 6’ table

• an approximately 12’ x 12’ area in the park

• supply of 9x13” aluminum pans

• supply of 1/2 lb. greaseproof paper food trays

• supply of plastic forks

• supply of 9 oz. plastic cups for cocktails

• supply of serving utensils

• returning smokers: Smoketoberfest baseball cap

• new smokers: Smoketoberfest apron

• signage with smokers name or team name

• signage with printed menu

• signage with QR code for voting, donating, etc.

What should smokers bring to the park?

• own canopy

• additional tables

• camping chairs

• sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, hammock, etc.

• flashlight or head lamp

• fire extinguisher

• cooking and serving utensils

• grill and/or smoker

• charcoal, wood chips, fire starter, newspaper

• additional serving containers

• decorations for table

• returning smokers: Smoketoberfest apron from last year

How much food should I prepare?

Last year, we estimate 300+ people attended Smoketoberfest 2022. Please plan to prepare a minimum of 50 servings per item.

How will the brisket judging work?

Each smoker will randomly draw a card listing a five minute window between 4:30 and 5:00 pm during which s/he must turn in their one slice of brisket at the “turn-in table” using the provided identical serving container. The volunteer staffing the turn-in table will check off the smokers name and label their container with a number. A volunteer runner will take the labeled container to the judges table. Judging will be blind as smokers will not be approaching the judge’s table with their container. Judging criteria will include the brisket’s taste, texture, tenderness, and appearance in order of weight. Judges votes will be tallied and a winner and runner up will be chosen.

Who are the judges for the brisket competition?

We have four brisket judges this year from a variety of backgrounds. Read their bios here.

What are the categories and prizes this year?

• We have two prizes for brisket awarded by judges:
  winner and runner up.

• We have nine fan favorite categories with prizes voted on by fans. Points will be given for each fan category which will determine an overall fan favorite winner.

What if it rains?

We plan to still have Smoketoberfest if the rain is light or scattered. If rain is torrential then we will postpone til Saturday, November 11.

When do I need to turn in my final menu?

We’d like to upload all menus to the Smoketoberfest website by early October and also send them out via social media to begin to get fans excited about the food and drinks to come at Smoketoberfest 2023. Feel free to be creative and detailed about your menu items and ingredients. Let’s also identify items that are vegeterian and vegan.

If you have your menu “mostly” finalized, please email it to sobosmoketoberfest@gmail.com by October 1. If you need another few days to finalize, that’s fine too.

We will also be making signage of your menu for your table on the day of.