The City of Marathon in partnership with the Mid Keys Booster Club Presents the Sauced and Tossed BBQ Party and Competition

1. Teams must be based in Monroe County, Florida

2. There will be one category - Pork Butt

3. Set up for Teams will be 6:00pm at Marathon Community Park, smoking may begin after meat inspection.

4. The food will be judged using blind judging. About 10 minutes before the competition, a BBQ committee person will put each team's entry into a numbered box and deliver the boxes of entries to the judge's tent. The judges will only know the number of the box, not the team associated with it. Boxes are picked up, and team numbers are determined at random. Any entries brough to the judges' table after the deadline will be disqualified.

5. Entries will be judged on taste, appearance, and tenderness

6. The People's Choice award will be based on the number of red tickets each team receives from event attendees. Attendees will judge each team on their own criteria.

7. In addition to seven judges' samples, a minimum of 200 2oz samples of your entry must be prepared, no side required. Contestants MUST give out samples to event attendees to participate in the competition.

8. No food or drinks may be sold by the contestants to the public during the event. Only BBQ samples may be given to the attendees in return for a tasting ticket.

9. A tasting ticket must be received from each attendee in exchange for their BBQ sample given.

10. The turn-in times will be set at 4:30pm. Once this time is announced, no changes will be made. A turn-in window of (10) minutes before turn-in time will be recognized.

11. Cooks are to prepare and cook in as sanitary a manner as possible.

12. Judges will be chosen by the City of Marathon Events Committee.

13. No pets or other animals are allowed in the cook-off area.

14. Cook off will take place rain or shine.

 

The promoter will sell food ticket packages to patrons that include food tickets, a voting ticket, and an alcoholic (age-verified) or non-alcoholic wristband. Patrons can visit any BBQ team he/she wishes. To vote for the People's Choice Award, the patron will drop the red voting ticket in the designated ballot box located at each team's table. Patron's and Teams may purchase additional unlimited voting tickets for $5.00 each. Voting will end at 5:30pm and the winner will be announced at 5:45pm.

The City of Marathon in partnership with the Mid Keys Booster Club Presents the Sauced and Tossed BBQ Party and Competition

Each team competing shall supply ALL his/her own meat, cooking ingredients, individual cooking devices, and utensils. Please bring your own fire extinguishers. We will provide a 10 X 10 area for you to set up your own tables and your umbrella/tent for shade and ice. All contestants must ADHERE to all electrical, fire, and other codes. Teams will be allowed access to set up at any time after 6pm the night prior of the cookoff. Contestants must be present and set up in their designated spots no later than 10am. The Chief Cook will be held responsible for the conduct of his team, guests, or invitees. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages will be grounds for disqualification. Any offensive conduct will be grounds for disqualification from the Cook Off. Glass bottles are not permitted in the contest area.

We will provide you with an area on-site designated for parking. The cooking area is for equipment only. No cars, trucks, RV's etc will be allowed in our cooking area. You may erect additional free-standing tents or other shelters in your area. Teams may erect pop up covers, tent covers, and/or enclose their space in any reasonable manner. DO NOT PLACE STAKES OF ANY KIND into the field or cause any damage to the field.

Trash receptacles will be placed throughout the contest area for each contestant to use. It is the responsibility of the BBQ cooking teams to keep their area clean and assist in garbage disposal.

Water and Electricity will be available as needed.

THE PRIZES (prize money may increase as teams sign up): 1st Place is a minimum of $500 2ⁿᵈ Place is a minimum of $250 3rd Place is a minimum of $100

People Choice Award is a Trophy and a $50 Publix Gift Card

City of Marathon/Mid Keys Booster Club BBQ Pork Butt Contest Entry Form Marathon Community Park Saturday January 24, 2026

Please submit a jpeg or png image of your team or logo to Events_Committee@ci.marathon.fl.us

Please return your completed and signed entry form to the City of Marathon, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon 33050 or email to Events Committee@ci.marathon.fl.us We must receive your registration form and $100 entry fee by 5pm January 10th. Entry Fees may be paid in Cash or Check made payable to Mid Keys Booster Club and are due to the address above by January 10th.

The City of Marathon and Mid Keys Booster Club reserve the right to make additional regulations as the situation warrants, all decisions of the judges are final.

All Participants Please sign waiver on next page

City of Marathon/Mid Keys Booster Club BBQ Pork Butt Contest Entry Form Marathon Community Park Saturday January 24, 2026

GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

I hereby acknowledge that I am voluntarily participating in the City of Marathon/Mid Keys Booster Clubs 2026 Sauced and Tossed BBQ Pork Butt Contest. I hereby assume full responsibility for all liability and all risk of injury or less, including death, which may result in my participation in this program. I hereby hold harmless, release, waive, forever discharge, and covenant not to bring legal action or claim against the City of Marathon and/or Mid Keys Booster Club or is sponsors for all claims or demands that I may have because of any accident illness, injury, or death, or damage to or loss or destruction of any property, arising or resulting directly or indirectly from my participating in the Program and occurring during such participating or any subsequent thereto. The City of Marathon and Mid Keys Boosters, officials, sponsors or any other organizations or persons associated with the event are not responsible for any injury, theft, or damage.

By signing below, you are acknowledging that you understand and agree to all terms.

All Team Members MUST sign this document for the team to be considered for the BBQ Contest.

BBQ Contest Registration and Waiver Page 2 of 2