Fifty-two barbecue teams are firing up their smokers at historic Hangar 9 at Brooks on Saturday, squaring off in ribs, chicken and brisket for CPS Energy’s GrillsGiving competition. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m., and organizers expect somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 people to show up for the smoky showdown.
According to KSAT, fifty-two teams are competing in ribs, chicken and brisket, with judging taking place right there at Hangar 9. Tickets come with samples from the competing teams while supplies last, the station reports, so early arrival might be the difference between tasting all three categories or just one. Per CPS Energy, the gathering is billed as a family-friendly BBQ competition fundraiser featuring great food, live music and free parking.
Brisket, Ribs, Chicken and Bragging Rights
Teams across the community are competing for top honors in brisket, ribs, chicken, and the coveted People’s Choice Award, CPS Energy notes on its event page. It’s the kind of friendly rivalry that’s become a fixture of San Antonio’s fall calendar, with the utility saying GrillsGiving has been serving up smoky goodness since 2014, according to the CPS Energy Newsroom.
Last year’s edition, held Nov. 15, 2025, at the same Hangar 9 venue, drew more than 60 barbecue teams, per the newsroom’s announcement. A year earlier, the San Antonio Current described the ninth annual event as a cook-off featuring more than 50 barbecue teams, live music and family-friendly activities. The 2025 KSAT promotion similarly pointed to more than 50 pitmasters competing for a Best Pitmaster title decided by attendee votes.
Where the Money Goes
The real stakes of Saturday’s cook-off go beyond bragging rights in the smoke ring. Net proceeds from GrillsGiving will benefit the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership, known as REAP, which CPS Energy describes as providing utility assistance to customers and families experiencing financial hardship paying their utility bill. As KSAT framed it in its own coverage, the competition raises money for that same utility-assistance mission…