Charley West BBQ Fest is annual event benefiting the Bob Burdette Center afterschool program.

The public is able to purchase meals from commercial BBQ vendors and tasting tickets to sample BBQ from backyard BBQ cooks. 

Ten dollars will purchase ten tasting tickets and the chance to vote for one’s favorite commercial BBQ and favorite backyard BBQ. Winners will be named “People’s Choice-Best BBQ.”

In addition, a panel of judges will do blind taste testing in both the commercial and backyard divisions. 

Commercial vendors will submit a sample of pulled pork BBQ with sauce to the judge’s panel to compete for “Best BBQ in Charleston at the Charley West BBQ Fest.” 

Backyard BBQ entrants will compete in four categories that include best pulled pork BBQ, best ribs, best sauce, and wildcard—anything you want to BBQ. First place in each event wins $100, second place wins $50, and third place wins $25. The event also features live local music.

The Bob Burdette Center is a non-profit afterschool and summer program that operates three afterschool program locations on the West Side of Charleston and serves approximately 130 children who attend Edgewood Elementary, Grandview Elementary, Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary, and Stonewall Jackson Middle.

Children are able to attend the program at no cost and receive daily meals, homework assistance, and tutoring. They also participate in a variety of enrichment activities and physical activity.

Charley West BBQ Fest in on Saturday, May 20, 2018, from 12 PM to 6 PM at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, WV. 

Live music starts at 12 PM and continues throughout the afternoon. Commercial BBQ is available for purchase between 12 PM and 6 PM.

The public will be able to purchase tasting tickets and sample BBQ from backyard cooks between 2 PM and 6 PM.

There is metered parking on nearby streets. There is also a nearby city parking garage between Virginia Street and Kanawha Boulevard with access from Laidley Street. 

Haddad Riverfront Park is a short walk from Charleston Town Center Mall which also offers a parking garage.

There is no entrance fee to the event. The public may come and enjoy the atmosphere and live music for free.

Commercial BBQ will be available to purchase at the vendors’ set prices. The public may also purchase tasting tickets to sample BBQ from backyard BBQ cooks.

Ten dollars will purchase ten tasting tickets and the chance to vote for one’s favorite commercial BBQ and favorite backyard BBQ. 

Tasting tickets may be used to purchase samples from backyard BBQ cooks. One ticket will purchase a tasting of 1 oz. of pulled pork BBQ and two tickets will purchase 1 rib from backyard cooks.

Tasting tickets cannot be used to purchase BBQ from commercial vendors. 

Tasting tickets may only be used to purchase samples from backyard BBQ cooks.

Commercial vendors may register online.

There is a $100 registration fee which may be submitted online or by check payable to Bob Burdette Center, 1401 Washington Street, W., Charleston, WV 25387. Vendors may sell BBQ food products and non-alcoholic beverages at their own prices. Alcoholic beverages will be sold by an exclusive vendor. The deadline to register is May 5, 2018.

Backyard BBQ cooks by register online only.

There is a $25 registration fee which may be submitted online or by check payable to Bob Burdette Center, 1401 Washington Street, W., Charleston, WV 25387. 

Each backyard cook will be provided a table behind which they can prepare BBQ in a smoker, grill, or other device. Cooks must supply the cooking device and any equipment and utensils necessary for cooking and cutting and a vessel for sauce (plastic squirt bottles are recommended but a spoon and jar are acceptable). 

There will be electric hookups for those that need it. Charley West BBQ Fest will supply the serving cups for pork and ribs. 

Each entrant should make the following amount of food for public tasting:

• 3 pounds of pulled pork
• 2 ½ racks of ribs
• 16 oz. of sauce.