BBQ RIB COOK-OFF
Central Bank Parking Lot
Sunday, September 7, 2025
317 South Main Street
Princeton, Illinois 61356
6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Get your cooking hats on and come out to this fun-filled event on Sunday. Pre-register and show up at 6 a.m. to have your spot assigned to you. Start cooking whenever you would like. Mingle with fellow cooks and prepare your finest meat around! Your meat will then be judged by anonymous judgers who get to taste test every single entry. The winner takes home $500!
For more information or to sign-up, contact Hector Gomez by email at hmgomez93@gmail.com.
Registration
2025 Registration Information Coming Soon
$30 Entry Fee
Please mail a check to Homestead Festival P.O. Box 572, Princeton, Illinois 61356. Checks should be made out to Homestead Festival.
Rules
- Meat inspections start at 6am.
- Cooking sites will be assigned/chosen upon arrival.
- Use of charcoal, wood(s) and pellet grills allowed this year.
- No pre-seasoning, marinating, or pre-cooking allowed.
- Turn in time will be 5 minutes either side of 3pm
- Turn in location is the front door of Central Bank.
- Entry platter will be assigned mid-morning, with each contestant’s own entry number.
- Each contestant must turn in a minimum of eight or more bone-in pork ribs.
- Entries will be judged on a scale of 1 through 9, with 5 being the median/average upon presentation, tenderness, and taste. A perfect score would be a cumulative 27 points.
- To preserve neutrality, each entry will not be judged/compared to another – rather as it’s own entity.
- Clean and safe handling of meat is a top priority.