Brisket, pork spare ribs, and a wild-card “Other Meat” category will be at the center of one of Amarillo’s longest-running fall food traditions when the Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-Off returns for its 30th annual edition.
The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce event is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th in Amarillo. The Chamber says more than 100 cooking teams are expected to take part, bringing together competition barbecue, public tasting, live music, and an evening built around food prepared on-site.
For visitors, it is more than a competition happening behind the scenes. Admission includes food and drinks, giving ticket holders a chance to sample barbecue while judges separately decide which entries earn top marks.
Brisket and Pork Spare Ribs take Center Stage
The official competition centers on three judged categories: beef brisket, pork spare ribs, and Other Meat. Brisket entries are presented as sliced meat for judging. Under the Chamber’s published rules, slices cannot be thicker than a No. 2 pencil, and no garnish or decoration is permitted. Sauce may be used only if it has been cooked onto the brisket…