2024
Smoketoberfest 2024 on October 19 was epic! Here are the numbers: 2 Otterbein parks joined by 1 closed cobblestone road, 18 smokers (12 returning, 6 new to STF), 13 different categories for voting, 600+ estimated attendees, 5 judges, 105 judges’ points awarded to winning brisket team Meat Sweats, 313 different online voters, 497 total votes awarded to fan favorite team All Sauced Up, 1 rockin’ live band with 5 awesome musicians, 73 different food items, 12 smoked briskets, 8 smoked pork items, 4 smoked poultry items, 4 smoked seafood items, 10 smoked appetizers, 10 smoked sides, 7 smoked desserts, 8 smoked cocktails, 3 “will it smoke?” items, 300+ donated cans of M8 beer, 9 generous sponsors.
History
2023
October 21, 2023 was the biggest and best Smoketoberfest yet! With 14 full competition smokers who smoked a full brisket plus sides and appetizers and four additional single category smokers, we filled Otterbein’s Concert and York Street Parks with an estimated 400+ attendees. Our five judges had their work cut out for them tasting 14 different briskets with flavors from Mexico, Japan, Korean, Texas, Louisiana, and Iowa. Live music from Riverside Shakedown for the second year in the row provided a great soundtrack to smokin’. Our biggest slate of sponsors since donated their time for judging, beer, prizes, photography, and graphic design.
2022
With increased interest from smokers and eaters, Smoketoberfest moved to Concert and York Street Parks in Otterbein and included 12 smokers and live music from Riverside Shakedown on October 29, 2022. Best brisket was judged by a professional panel of three judges and the “gold pig” trophy was awarded to Jeremy Scholz for his Smoked Big Dill Brisket. Other fan voted favorites included smoked Cambodian sausage, smoked bacon-wrapped oreos, smoked ginger bourbon salmon, smoked kimchi and pork belly fried rice, and smoked cardamom pineapple mango lychee cocktail.
2021
The fifth annual Smoketoberfest was Halloween weekend on October 30, 2021. We moved to the alley that runs parallel to S. Sharp between W. Hill and W. York in Otterbein and showcased eight smokers and live music from local Otterbein band Roses ‘n Rust. Audience-voted winner of “best brisket” was Brendan O’Brien though ballot stuffing by his children is suspected. The “golden pig” trophy was introduced as the prize for the winner to hold for a year until the next Smoketoberfest.
2020
Covid changed the fourth annual Smoketoberfest on October 10, 2020. We kept it small with just four smokers and served food to neighbors who heard through word of mouth that Smoketoberfest was still alive during Covid. Neighbors would come to a sallyport on West Hill where Smoketoberfest kids took orders, ran them back to the smokers who made plates for our guests.
2019
For the third annual Smoketoberfest on October 19, 2019, we continued the tradition of closing down the sidewalk on the 100 block of West Hill. Hammocks and beach chairs were set up on Hill Street for smokers to get some rest while tending to their briskets. We expanded the menu to include smoked desserts.
2018
The second annual Smoketoberfest on October 14, 2018 moved outdoors to the 100 block of West Hill Street. We closed the south sidewalk down and introduced smoked cocktails for the first time. Menu items included smoked brisket, Atlantic salmon, Cambodian sausage, chicken wings, and pork belly.
2017
For the inaugural Smoketoberfest on October 29, 2017, our two cofounders Brendan and Dan smoked all day in the rain. Smoked brisket, burnt ends, tofu, salmon, corn bread, babaganoush, and white fish dip were enjoyed by neighbors inside the O’Brien home in Otterbein. No competition this year. Just a friendly neighborhood potluck.
