2025 GrillFest & BBQ Competition

Provided meat and grills will be available to begin cooking on at 7:00 AM on the event day. Please gauge the prep and grilling time needed to prepare your dish for judging promptly at 3:00 PM. However, all cooks should arrive no later than 10:00 AM to set up.

GrillFest BBQ Competition Official Rules:

Contestants may cook individually or as part of a team (maximum of 2 members). Please note that one t-shirt and one apron are provided per paid registration, and one prize will be awarded for the winning ribs, ribeye, and Mystery Box (combined score) entries cooked on a Traeger, Weber, and Big Green Egg and one will be named GRILLMASTER!

At the time of registration, contestants must choose between a Big Green Egg, Weber, or Traeger grill to use in the competition. Seven (7) spots for each grill will be awarded on a first-come basis.

Note: The Ribs and Ribeye will NOT be available for preparation until 7:00 AM the day of the event.

Contestants must turn in four (4) 1-inch x 1-inch pieces of Ribeye and four (4) individual Rib bones to the Event Representative for judging at 3:00 PM (containers will be provided).

Awards:

Judging will be carried out via a blind taste test.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• Combined Score - Best Ribs, Ribeye, & Mystery Box on a Big Green Egg ($250 Hartville Hardware Gift Card)
• Combine Score - Best Ribs, Ribeye, & Mystery Box on a Weber grill ($250 Hartville Hardware Gift Card)
• Combined Score - Best Ribs, Ribeye, & Mystery Box on a Traeger grill ($250 Hartville Hardware Gift Card)
• An additional $250 Hartville Hardware Gift Card awarded for Best in Show "GRILLMASTER" title

Black Box Instructions:

Back by popular demand, our Mystery Black Box Challenge returns this year with a fun twist to keep things fresh!

As before, judging for the Mystery Black Box will account for 25% of your total score for the day.

At 11:45 AM, each team will receive a Black Box containing six (6) mystery ingredients. You’ll have 30 minutes to create and submit a single, cohesive dish using all six ingredients. Judging will begin at 12:15 PM sharp.

This year’s twist will add an extra layer of creativity to the challenge, but we’ll keep the details under wraps until you open your box!

Contestants may add other ingredients of their choice, including items sold at Hartville Hardware. The dish must include all of the ingredients in the box. All six (6) mystery ingredients must be utilized to create a single dish. You will be judged on how well you can combine these ingredients, not on how well you can prepare each ingredient individually.

Judging criteria will be based on taste, cohesiveness of the mystery items, and appearance.

Everyone will have a personal size, table top griddle to use. You may also use your main grill or a combination of the two.

What Will Be Provided the Day of the Event:

• One (1) Large Big Green Egg on Nest with Plate Setter, one (1) Weber Genesis E-315LP or one (1) Traeger Woodridge based on your registration
• One (1) load of charcoal, propane, or hickory pellets
• Two (2) spare ribs and two (2) ribeye steaks
• One (1) Mystery Black Box - which will be handed out at 11:45 AM
• One (1) 4ft x 2.5ft Prep Table. You will share an 8ft table with another competitor
• One (1) folding chair (additional chairs are available upon request)
• Basic sanitation supplies
• Sampling containers & utensils
• Judging container

Contestant Responsibilities:

• All other ingredients required to prepare your dish
• Thermometer
• BBQ tools
• Oven mitts
• Smoking wood (as needed)
• Seasonings
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Aluminum Foil
• Paper towels
• Cleaning supplies
• Knives
• Cutting boards
• Additional grilling accessories (as needed)

Please, no alcohol or personal speakers.

A total of seven (7) spots will be available for each grill brand category (Big Green Egg, Weber & Traeger).

Registration is $50.00 (not including fees & taxes).

100% of the proceeds from the entry fees will be donated to the Lake Township F.I.S.H. Food Pantry. The F.I.S.H.'s function is to be a source of assistance for those in need in Lake Township, Ohio including groceries, clothing, utilities, housing payments and other miscellaneous requests.

The deadline to cancel your registration is Thursday, August 21, 2025.

For more information or questions regarding the 2025 Hartville Hardware GrillFest & BBQ Competition, please contact Brooke Evans at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Hartville Hardware & Lumber