Mouthwatering festival returns June 17th & 18th, rain or shine

UNCASVILLE, CT (April 11, 2023) – 10 Years & Still Lit! Celebrate a decade’s worth of the best in barbecue at Sun BBQ Fest 2023! Prepare for incredible food, cold beer, hand-crafted cocktails, an immersive new experience by Mohegan Digital and incredible performances by international Country artist Kameron Marlowe and American Idol star HunterGirl. Over the course of BBQ Fest weekend, guests will have the chance to experience 50 different, mouthwatering BBQ options, full plate vending from nationally acclaimed BBQ vendors, sample small bites in our “People’s Choice Competition” and taste up to five different styles of Wings & Ribs in our annual competition. Sun BBQ Fest will also showcase World Food Championship (WFC) sanctioned barbecue teams that compete all over the country! Stick around until 4:00pm on Sunday for a celebration where WFC contest winners are given over $26,000 in prizes. Get ready for BBQ beyond belief!

Tickets to Sun BBQ Fest are $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday and are on sale now through Ticketmaster and at Mohegan Sun Box Office. Kids ages 12 and under receive free admission. Omaha Steaks and recteq are partnering with Mohegan Sun to provide a special surprise in honor of Sun BBQ Fest’s 10th anniversary. All ticketholders to Sun BBQ Fest will be automatically entered into a drawing, and one lucky winner will receive the RT-B380 Bullseye Wood Pellet Grill, valued at $500!

Learn more about the art of BBQ with some of the best chefs in the business at the BBQ Fest Chef Demo Stage, hosted by Chef Plum! Grab a seat at a picnic table and listen to exclusive BBQ tips from the pros, including Chad Rosenthal, Matt Groark and more. Connecticut’s own Bear’s Smokehouse is also bringing the heat with saucy recipe details!

Ribs & Wings Galore

Mohegan Sun is pulling back the curtain at BBQ Fest for guests to be a part of select judging times throughout the weekend. Participating World Food Championship teams will offer $2 BBQ samples all weekend long, and guests can feast throughout the day before voting for the best in show. Voting will be open from Saturday at 11:00am until Sunday at 3:00pm and the winners will be announced on Sunday at 4:00pm.

In addition to the People’s Choice competition, guests can indulge at the Rib and Wing Challenges. All participating WFC Team competitors will be given racks of ribs and loads of chicken wings to prepare in any flavor they wish. For a $5 entry, guests can try any five ribs or wings and vote for their favorite. Winners will be announced during Sunday’s Awards Ceremony at 4:00pm. The Rib Challenge Tent is open to guests on Saturday from Noon – 2:30pm, and the Wing Challenge Tent is open on Saturday from 6:00pm – 8:30pm. A portion of the proceeds from both competitions benefit Operation BBQ Relief, an organization dedicated to providing meals to disaster-stricken communities across the U.S.

Sun BBQ Fest wouldn’t be complete without entertainment!

All weekend long guests can pair their favorite BBQ with great live entertainment! On Saturday, June 17th, we are bringing the party with can’t-miss live performances by Kameron Marlowe, HunterGirl, Red Light, and more. Wear your boots and get ready to party! Finish an unforgettable night under the stars with an amazing firework display at approximately 9:15pm on Saturday night.

Wicked Cornhole will host a pro-standard Cornhole Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Visit SUNBBQFEST.COM for more information on how to sign up. Guests will need to download the “Scoreholio” app as well to participate in the tournament. A winning team will be announced each day of the event. Each winning team will take home $250 in cash, a one-night free hotel stay and two tickets to see a show at Mohegan Sun Arena (for available dates)! Big Dog’s Mobile Axe Throwing will also have sessions available for guests ages 12 and up. Walk-ups are available throughout the day. Sun BBQ Fest 2023 truly has something for everyone.

To stay up to date on all things Sun BBQ Fest, visit SUNBBQFEST.COM.

Note: Security will be checking IDs upon entry and they will be providing wristbands to guests 21 years of age or older. Seating by the fire pits at the bar is available for guests 21 years of age or older; no underage guests are allowed within this seating area.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN:

Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States.  Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mohegansun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun.

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