FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Scottsboro BBQ Festival Returns Oct. 10 with Barbecue, Shopping, Family Fun and More
Decatur, Ala. (September 17, 2026) – The aroma of slow-cooked barbecue will fill the air in downtown Scottsboro on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, as the eleventh annual Scottsboro BBQ Festival brings award-winning pitmasters, backyard grill masters, local barbecue enthusiasts and families together for a day of food, shopping, competition and fun. Publix is the presenting sponsor of this year’s festival.
Held on the picturesque Downtown Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the free festival features more than 30 backyard contestant cook teams and 180-plus merchandise, food and specialty vendors making it a destination for both barbecue lovers and shoppers.
Festivalgoers can browse a wide variety of vendors offering something for nearly every interest, including treenware, jewelry, boutique clothing and accessories, seasonal décor, handmade soaps, arts and crafts, honey and other locally made and specialty products. With more than 180 vendors filling the Downtown Square, visitors can spend the day discovering unique finds while enjoying the festival’s food, entertainment and activities.
At the heart of the festival are three barbecue competitions:
• Backyard Competition - Serious grill masters will fire up their smokers and compete for the title of grand champion.
• People’s Choice Competition - Festivalgoers can purchase a $10 ticket to sample up to 10 barbecue entries and up to 10 desserts before casting a vote for their favorites.
• Kids-Q - Young chefs ages 5 to 12 will put their grilling skills to the test as they compete to see who can cook the best burger.
The Scottsboro BBQ Festival is also part of the Backyard Battle Royal, a competition that brings together four barbecue events — Scottsboro BBQ Festival, Singing River Smoke-O-Rama, High on the Hog Festival, Ditto Landing Reelin-n-Smokin — for the opportunity to compete for higher payouts. The winners of the Backyard Battle Royal will be announced at the Scottsboro BBQ Festival.
Beyond the barbecue and shopping, visitors can enjoy an official Alabama cornhole tournament and a car, truck and motorcycle show.
Families will find plenty to keep the little ones entertained in the Kids Fun Zone, featuring inflatables, a fishing pond, pumpkin bowling, face painting and more. Some activities are free, while others may require a small participation fee.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. All activities take place on the Downtown Square located at 316 S Broad Street in Scottsboro. For more information, visit https://www.scottsborobbqfestival.fun/.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of attractions, campgrounds, festivals, chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations, local retailers and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
