10-06-2025 11:13am

A Complete Guide

Hunt Valley Life Staff

MD State BBQ Bash

Date and Time
October 10, 2025 | 4 – 10 p.m.
October 11, 2025 | 12 – 10 p.m.

Location
2 S Bond St
Bel Air, MD 21014

Admission
Free!
Food, Drink, and More Available for Purchase

Resources

As Seen On

PhillyVoice - Fall adventures await in Harford County, Maryland

About the Event

Harford County MD’s most anticipated event of the year is the MD State BBQ Bash. Named as one of Harford County’s best events, the MD State BBQ Bash is a barbecue themed street festival featuring the Maryland State BBQ Championship, with more than 25 competition teams from the Mid-Atlantic area and beyond competing for cash prizes and the chance to compete in the annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, TN and The American Royal in Kansas City, MO.

In addition, 40 amateur teams will compete in the MD State BBQ Bash Tailgate Challenge to see who has the best ribs and chicken while competing for cash, prizes, and bragging rights. For more than 20 years, the MD State BBQ Bash has grown to be one of the largest, most fun, and most anticipated events of the year in Downtown Bel Air. Great food, great music, great people, the Maryland State Barbecue Championship, and the MD State BBQ Bash Tailgate Challenge have combined to create a tradition that we hope you will want to be a part of this year and in the years ahead.

The MD State BBQ Bash is being brought to you by the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Main Street Maryland organization dedicated to creating a vibrant business community and visitor friendly destination in Downtown Bel Air, MD. This event is the largest fundraising effort for the Bel Air Downtown Alliance and 100% of the proceeds benefits the mission and is reinvested locally.

2024 competition results

Championship Competition

GRAND CHAMPION: SweetBelly’s BBQ
RESERVE CHAMPION: B’s Que
3rd: Smokin with Pops BBQ Team
4th: Menke Boys BBQ
5th: Piggy & Swine
6th: Susquehanna Smokers
7th: All Fired Up BBQ
8th: Up in Smokers
9th: Team Meat Coma
10th: Hoos Smokin’

Tailgate Challenge

Results TBA

2025 event map

Music Line Up

The MD State BBQ Bash partners with WXCY Radio to deliver an incredible music experience at the Bash.

2025 Music Schedule

Friday, October 10
5 – 7:30 p.m.: Shake the Room
8:30 – 9:45 p.m.: Greylan James in partnership with WXCY

Saturday, October 11
3 – 5 p.m.: Nothin’ But Trouble
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Bonfire Band
8 – 10 p.m.: Chasing Friday

Seating

Looking for a place to sit back, relax, and enjoy your fresh BBQ? Here is a list on seating options for the event!

High Top Tables along Thomas St. and in the Crafter’s Area in Event Central
Picnic Tables in the Courthouse Patio, Park Area, and behind Vagabond Sandwich Co.
BYOS! Come with foldable chairs to sit throughout the event, including near the stage!

Parking

Plenty of parking is available throughout Downtown Bel Air. All parking is free in Downtown Bel Air on weekends and after 5 p.m. weekdays, including the Bel Air Parking Garage (located at 6 S. Hickory Ave).

Handicapped Parking for the Event

Handicapped parking lots can be found close to the event in the parking lot on W. Pennsylvania Ave. (between S. Bond and S. Hayes Streets), the Harford County Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot located at 38 S. Bond St., the top half of the Bond/Thomas Lot (125 Thomas Street – enter on Bond), and select bagged spaces on the street on Pennsylvania Ave. Handicapped parking is strictly enforced, and all violators will be towed.

Shuttle Bus Parking

Bel Air Elementary School 30 E Lee St
Homestead Wakefield Elementary School 900 S Main St

Kids Tent Schedule

The Kids Tent is located on Thomas Street in Event Central near Vagabond Sandwich Company – scroll up for the event map!

Friday, October 10
4 – 6 p.m.: Empire Dojo and Movement Gym
6 – 8 p.m.: Empire Dojo and Movement Gym

Saturday, October 11
12 – 2 p.m.: Bel Air Library and Movement Gym
2 – 4 p.m.: Bel Air Library and Movement Gym
4 – 6 p.m.: Empire Dojo and Celebree School
6 – 8 p.m.: Empire Dojo

2025 Food Vendors

Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ, Spready Oak Country Cafe, Fountain Green Concessions, Dyvine BBQ in Motion, Virginia Vendor Food Services, Handsome Devil BBQ, Old Line Grill, Bacon on a Stick, Deli-ish, NC Ribs on Wheels, Jim’s Smokin Que BBQ, Ribbins

2025 Activities

Crabby Axe Throwing
Wreck Creation Rage Room
X-Golf Bel Air

2025 Food Trucks

October 10 and 11 Kona Ice, Mr. Dave’s Ice Cream, Das Bierhalle, The Slice Is Right, Don’s Dog

2025 Cornhole Competition

Organized and ran by Old Line State Cornhole!
October 11, 2025 – S Hayes St: 11 a.m. warm up and 12 p.m. starting time
Open and Lower Divisions
BYOP – $40 per team
4-game Round Robin into Double Elimination bracket with a guarantee of 6 games
Cash Prizes!

Pre-Register and More Information: Click Here!