Barbeque, beer, beaches and blues defined the 24^th-annual New Jersey State Barbeque Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival. Vendors, games, BBQ-themed food, the engulfing smell of grilled meats and the playful, rhythmic sounds of the blues attracted almost 70,000 people to this three-day festival in North Wildwood, New Jersey, from July 8-10.

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“When you think about what America’s food is – it’s BBQ,” Eric Shenkus, event chairman for the festival, told Atlantic City Weekly. “When you think about what America’s music is, it traces back to the blues. Both are uniquely American so it’s the perfect combination.”

While top blues acts from across the U.S. and region took the stage, 65 nationwide teams competed across five categories with their best ribs, pork, chicken, brisket, burgers and desserts, in an attempt to win cash prizes and be crowned the grand champion.

The competition was sanctioned and judged by the largest association of barbeque enthusiasts, the Kansas City Barbeque Association (KCBS). In the end, after aprons were splattered with barbeque sauce and grills were exhausted, Chunky BBQ of Hershey, PA, defeated its tough competitors and became the 2022 NJ State BBQ Grand Champion. As the state’s winner, Chunky BBQ is now eligible to compete at the annual invitation-only, world BBQ championship, the American Royal, in Kansas City.

World-renowned BBQ restaurants like Butch’s, Joe Smoke and Ribbin had pop-up tents with long lines of people sporting BBQ-themed promo, all of whom were there for a common purpose: to experience award-winning food.

The New Jersey State Barbecue Championship drew large crowds eager to sample ribs, brisket and other food.

As guests walked toward the shore, they were greeted by over 30 vendors and organizations, many of whom used the annual competitions to promote and sell their BBQ- and summer-themed products. Sunglass vendors, local barbeque sauce vendors, a business that sold the “World’s Best Rumcakes,” the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and more set up a booth during the weekend event.

The Local 59 PBA accepted donations for their “BBQ & Blues Weekend” promo shirt.  

The Cape May County Local 59 Police Benevolent Association was raising funds with a “BBQ & Blues Weekend” shirt.

“We’re the police union for the majority of Cape May County… this is a fundraiser shirt and all proceeds go back to our union,” said Vincent Deritis, a police officer for the county. “On the front of the shirt we promote the blues and BBQ weekend, and on the back of the shirt it shows all the police departments that are a part of this union.” 

A popular item among attendees during this hot weekend was Wildwood’s limited-edition Jersey Shore collector mug; after being purchased, refills of Pirate Pete’s Soda Pop were free all day.

This limited-edition collectors mug allowed attendees to receive unlimited drink refills.

The joint event also sold a commemorative performance T-shirt featuring a grill-master pig holding a blue cup bearing the words Anglesea Blues Festival, exemplifying the conjunction of BBQ and blues. All proceeds from the weekend will go to support the Anglesea Volunteer Fire Co., which has been serving the Wildwoods community since 1897.

The Anglesea Blues Festival and the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship featured a jointly branded shirt.

“The Anglesea Fire Company decided that they wanted to add a little fun to their resume, and they started what is now the best barbecue and blues festival in America,” said Patrick T. Rosenello, mayor of North Wildwood. “And for all their service and all the fun that they’ve given the city of North Wildwood, on behalf of the city, I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

The BBQ competition – which started in 1999 as a small community fundraiser across from the Anglesea firehouse – has grown into one of the most popular competitions on the East Coast. The event’s tasty food and memorable, long-lasting branded merch have helped to make it a highly anticipated occasion every year.

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